Future Scenarios
The idea of the future being different from the present is so repugnant to our conventional modes of thought and behavior that we, most of us, offer a great resistance to acting on it in practice.
-John Maynard Keynes, 1937
What does the future hold and what does it mean to different organizations and communities? Strategic planning uses historical information from past events to prepare for the future. Scenarios help plan for significant changes for which the available data is limited and/or uncertain. Scenarios are said to be ideal for preparing for substantial changes by navigating through various potential events and determining different ways to respond to the scenarios.
To complete:
Read the scenarios and reflect on the future scenarios presented in Future vision and in Global Trends 2040.
Assignment
Futurist Leadership
Most strategic planning processes include conducting a SWOT analysis to assess the organization's external and internal environments to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the organization in the short term (1-5 years). On the other hand, scenario planning allows leaders to imagine possible future events in the long-term (20-30 years). Scenario planning provides leaders and organizations an opportunity to envision a strategic goal that they are willing to work to achieve over a long time.
For this Assignment, review the scenarios presented in Future vision and Global Trends 2040 as well as the other Learning Resources for this week.
Use the nonprofit or government organization you have selected for your Final Project, and provide the following:
- Briefly describe the mission of the organization you selected.
- Explain how this organization could utilize scenario planning with its strategic planning processes to engage key stakeholders in long range planning.
- Identify and explain at least two potential strategic issues facing the organization 10 years from now. Explain how you would utilize scenario planning to identify two strategic goals the organization would like to achieve in 10 years.
The Assignment should follow APA 6th edition guidelines:
-Title page
-Running head
-Introduction and Conclusion
-Level 1 headings to define sections
-3-5 pages in length, double spaced, 12 pt Times Roman font
-3-5 references cited in the text and a reference list