Systems Thinking for Strategic Foresight

Program Overview

Impactful foresight work requires us to think broadly, contextually, and systematically. The Systems Thinking for Strategic Foresight course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how systems thinking and foresight are interlinked historically and how the two domains approach navigating complex challenges and identifying potential opportunities.

The course will explain the core theories and concepts of systems science and systems thinking as they relate to the study and application of systems thinking in foresight. A systems lens to anticipating futures enables you to develop the knowledge and competencies to frame, analyze, understand, and build a sustainable future. 

Details

Program Objectives:

• Understand the foundational concepts and principles of Systems Thinking with chaos and complexity theories with foresight as a context. 
• Explore the interconnections of Systems Thinking and Foresight and identify ways to integrate both approaches to spot weak signals and opportunities. 
•  Learn the methods and tools in systems thinking for envisioning alternative futures. 
• Demonstrate practical applications and share real-world case studies through group exercises to study and apply systems thinking in foresight practice. 

What You Will Learn:

• Foundations of Systems Thinking, including chaos and complexity theory with foresight as context. 
• Familiarize yourself with several systems thinking tools and techniques and apply them in envisioning alternative futures. 
• Integrate and explore how systems thinking enhances foresight methodologies and approaches. 
• Examine case studies and real-world examples of Systems Thinking applied to foresight. 

Key Benefits:

• Systems Thinking fosters a holistic perspective to foresight leading to more comprehensive and nuanced insights into complex systems. 
• Equips you with tools and methods to navigate complexity, understanding the dynamics and behaviors of complex systems to anticipate potential impacts of consequences and actions better. 
• Systems Thinking enhances your ability to think long-term and develop robust, adaptive, and sustainable strategies and avoid short-sighted solutions. 
• Systems Thinking is a valuable addition to the toolkit of professional foresight practitioners. It complements other foresight methods and techniques and enriches futurists’ analysis and understanding of future trends and scenarios. 
• Enhances your systems literacy and ability to understand complex futures from a systems perspective. 

Who Should Attend:

Foresight practitioners, policy analysts and decision-makers, urban planners and city administrators, sustainability practitioners, business strategists and innovators, researchers, academics, and professionals in various industries.