I’m teaching a workshop on strategic foresight at the AAM annual meeting in San Francisco this May. This is a chance to learn how to use the Alliance’s futurist resources, including our TrendsWatch reports and scenarios, to enhance your organization’s planning.
I was tremendously encouraged by the enthusiasm of attendees at the first iteration of this workshop at last year’s conference. People dove into the exercises with enthusiasm and did great work. In response to their feedback, we’ve moved the workshop earlier in the conference and make it a bit longer. As a result, you will find it in the online program as:
An Introduction to Futuring, Sunday, May 17, 1-5 pm
We will kick off with an “optimistic icebreaker,” review basic concepts of strategic foresight, and explore how the Alliance’s futurist resources can be used in your work. Much of the time will be devoted to three futuring exercises:
- The Thing from the Future, by Situation Lab: an imagination game for envisioning alternative tomorrows. (One of the future things created by attendees is pictured above.)
- Implications Wheels: a method for investigating the potential effects of trends, events, and decisions.
- The Foresight Engine, adapted from the work of the Institution for the Future: a planning game for exploring various scenarios of museum futures.
Each attendee will receive a bundle of resources, handouts, instructions, and suggestions for reprising these activities in their own institutions.
Registration is $50 and limited to 55 participants. Last year the workshop filled up quickly, and had an extensive waiting list. I recommend you register now to secure your spot!
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