Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning

Course Category : Strategy

An advanced programme for strengthening institutional capabilities in anticipating future shifts, analysing uncertainty, developing strategic scenarios, and supporting resilient long-term decision-making.
Duration: 5 Days
Level: Advanced

Introduction

In environments shaped by accelerating economic, technological, social, and regulatory change, effective strategy can no longer rely solely on current-state analysis or linear projections of historical trends. Organisations require systematic foresight capabilities to explore alternative futures, detect emerging signals, and understand uncertainties that may reshape long-term priorities and decisions.
This course provides an integrated framework for strategic foresight and scenario planning, covering environmental scanning, trend analysis, driving forces, scenario construction, strategic option testing, and early-warning indicators. It enables participants to translate future-oriented insights into structured inputs for resilient strategy and informed decision-making..

Targeted Audience

Executives and Decision-Makers
Strategy and Planning Managers
Organisational Development and Transformation Leaders
Risk and Business Continuity Professionals
Policy and Strategic Programme Managers
Innovation and Foresight Professionals
Strategic Analysts and Consultants
Leaders Responsible for Long-Term Planning

Targeted Skills

Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight
Environmental Scanning and Emerging Trend Analysis
Identification of Driving Forces and Critical Uncertainties
Alternative Scenario Development
Strategic Implications Analysis
Strategy and Decision Robustness Testing
Early-Warning Indicator Development
Integration of Foresight into Planning and Decision-Making

Expected Outcomes

Explain the fundamental principles of strategic foresight and their relationship with planning and decision-making.
Analyse trends, driving forces, and emerging signals that may influence organisational futures.
Identify and classify critical uncertainties according to their impact and predictability.
Develop a coherent set of alternative future scenarios.
Assess the strategic implications of different scenarios for organisational objectives and choices.
Test the robustness of existing strategies against alternative future conditions.
Develop early-warning indicators for monitoring scenario-relevant developments.
Integrate foresight findings into strategic planning, risk management, and decision-making processes.

Training Topics Index

Strategic foresight concepts and organisational relevance
Distinguishing forecasting, prediction, foresight, and strategic planning
Patterns of change and uncertainty in strategic environments
Time horizons and levels of futures analysis
Foresight as a foundation for resilience and long-term decision quality

Environmental scanning approaches and change detection
Megatrend and emerging trend analysis
Weak signals and emerging issue identification
Political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and regulatory drivers
Classification of driving forces by impact and uncertainty

Principles and logic of scenario planning
Defining the focal issue, scope, and time horizon
Identifying critical uncertainties
Developing scenario logic and alternative structures
Constructing coherent and differentiated future narratives

Assessing organisational implications across scenarios
Identifying future strategic opportunities and risks
Stress-testing existing strategies against alternative futures
Evaluating strategic options for robustness and adaptability
Distinguishing common strategic actions from scenario-contingent choices

Translating scenarios into strategic planning inputs
Developing early-warning and change indicators
Connecting foresight with risk management and organisational resilience
Updating scenarios as conditions and evidence evolve
Institutionalising foresight within governance and decision-making processes

Course Features

Updated and Interactive Content
Hypothetical Examples and Case Studies
Pre- and Post-assessments to Measure Impact
Verified Certificate with a QR Verification Code

Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning