Applying Strategic Foresight to Organisational Change

Does your organisation suffer what Futurists call ‘Operational Sleepwalking’? That most organisations (and people) willingly sleepwalk their way into their futures is not all that surprising. What is surprising about that however is that those people and those organisations are: * Surprised when something unexpected (and not to their liking) happens and, * Claim they had no alternative Tackling this all too pervasive mindset Strategic Futurist Marcus Barber will be presenting at the Centre for Organisational Development OD Professionals Network on the 24th of October, looking at how Organisational Development, HR and Learning & Teaching Managers can leverage Strategic Foresight to assist their organisations. The link to the evening can be found at the website where you can also register for the event – www.cfod.com.au. A summary of the evening follows here:

 

The role of a Strategic Futurist is to wake the organisation out of its slumber so that it can make better operational choices for the future.  Strategic foresight is at its core, the act of Organisational Development for emerging operational needs.  Where typical planning and learning and development is focused on improving existing skill sets, Future Studies nudges the focus into the space where the organisation can begin to prepare BEFORE a skill set is required.  Strategic Foresight can play a key part of leading an Organisational Development Framework.

The session will introduce you to some of the key concepts of Strategic Futures and their use in developing capabilities for organisations and individuals.  You’ll be offered a clear choice – continue sleepwalking into the future and deal with the ‘nasty surprises’ or set your own alarm clock so that your organisation is ready ahead of when the challenge hits!

To register for this event please click here.

Registrations close on Friday 19 October 2007

Melbourne Cup Predictions

Nov 5, 2007

Futurists often get asked things like ‘Okay then – who’s going to win the ‘flag’ this year’. In Melbourne Cup time most of my friends ring me asking for a hot tip. Given my consistent poor form at selecting a winner, why they would ask me is anyone’s guess (unless they are working out who…

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Applying Strategic Foresight to Organisational Change

Oct 17, 2007

Does your organisation suffer what Futurists call ‘Operational Sleepwalking’? That most organisations (and people) willingly sleepwalk their way into their futures is not all that surprising. What is surprising about that however is that those people and those organisations are: * Surprised when something unexpected (and not to their liking) happens and, * Claim they…

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The Australian Strategic Planning Institute Gets a Boost

Sep 27, 2007

Maree Conway, of ‘University Futures’ has joined the Australian Strategic Planning Institute as a lead facilitator for the Institute’s programs. Maree’s experience in policy development, planning and strategy initiatives provides additional weight to the sessions on offer. TASPI now have three key facilitators that cover critical steps in the Strategic Planning Process – Enhanced Awareness…

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How to Catch a Stealth Bomber & Other iiBubbles

Sep 21, 2007

The latest edition of Fast Thinking has hit the streets and includes another tool for those seeking to develop innovation and strategy. Marcus Barber explains how to use, what he calls an ‘iiBubble’, a process that helps capture an idea to see if it has innovation ‘legs’. As one of the tools unique to Barber…

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Talented Futurist Celebrates a Birthday

Aug 30, 2007

Looking Up Feeling Good would like to wish the very talented and focused futurist, Sophie Barber a happy birthday today. Sophie’s amazing talent at suggesting the possible future for a positive outcome is a true inspiration and we look forward to many more insights as the complexity of challenges continues to test our understanding, commitment…

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Leading Sustainability through Corporate Real Estate Hypothetical

Aug 22, 2007

The CoreNet Global Melbourne 2007 Summit incorporated a thought provoking Hypothetical panel discussion on the future of corporate real estate and the drivers for sustainability. With an economic futures framework provided by Melbourne University Professor of Economics Neville Norman who moderated the discussion, the panel included Aggie Aitken, Head of Workplace Development at ANZ; Strategic…

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Innovation in Employee Engagement

Jul 17, 2007

Among other great articles, the winter 2007 edition of Fast Thinking magazine highlights the ‘8 Factor’ model for effective employee engagement, created by strategic futurist Marcus Barber. Using the model he shows how organisations can develop greater flexibility when it comes to providing incentives as a means for improving productivity and ensuring longevity for staff.…

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Housing Crisis and A Difference to a Difference of Opinion

Jul 3, 2007

Last night the ABC program ‘A Difference of Opinion’ looked at the issues of the housing affordability ciris. The panel provided some quality perspectives as to what was causing the challenge and what kind of actions might need to occur in order to address the issue with Ross Gittins’ early observation that the debate completely…

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Sustainability as a Source of Competitive Advantage

Jun 22, 2007

Dan Atkins, former manager of Environmental policy at Toyota and now Director of Sustainable Business Practises and Strategic Futurist Marcus Barber will speak at the South East Networks / VicUrban Business Breakfast at the Sandown Racecourse on Wednesday the 27th of June. Both Dan (who’ll discuss how Toyota applies its Environmental Policy in order to…

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Future Alerts Subscription Service now Monthly

May 27, 2007

Looking Up Feeling Good’s advanced signals reporting service ‘Future Alerts’ is now available as a monthly subscription offering. Designed to provide your organisation with signals indicating potential change, each report comes with analysis of the signals and how they might impact your business. Applying some advanced Environmental Scanning process, including the ‘VSTEEP’ model, you can…

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