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Futures Thinking

and Strategy Transformation

Overview

This interactive futures course is based on the six pillars approach to Futures Studies. Using methods such as the futures triangle, emerging issues analysis, the futures wheel, the Sarkar game, scenario planning, causal layered analysis, visioning and backcasting participants create alternative and preferred futures. Participants work in teams on questions relevant to their work (for example, the futures of organizational structures; ageing and productivity; housing and homelessness, gender equity) in the next two decades.​
Case studies are used to illustrate the methods. Participants over the two days learn about themselves, others, their organization, and the changing world. They leave with not just insights as to the futures of x, but as to their own life narratives, and what they need to do In order to realize their visions.

Facilitator

Professor Sohail Inayatullah
UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies Professor, TAMKANG University Researcher, Metafuture.org​

Sohail Inayatullah, a political scientist and futurist, is the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies at the Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, IIUM, Malaysia. He is also Professor at Tamkang University, Taiwan and Associate, Melbourne Business School, the University of Melbourne. He teaches from www.metafutureschool.org where his courses include Become a Futurist and Personal Futures: the CLA of the Self. He is listed in the top two percent of the world’s scientists as measured by the highest impact of citations.​
His most recent books include CLA 3.0, and Asia 2038.​

​In the past year, he has worked with PWC, ANZ; OECD; FAO; INTERPOL; Mitsubishi Motors; the Government of New Zealand; the WHO; the Government of Egypt; the Government of Indonesia; The Asian Development Bank; Globe Telecom; ISESCO; the Philippines Senate; the Pacific Community; GASERC; and the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.​

Dr. Ivana Milojević
Director, Metafuture.org

Dr. Ivana Milojević is a Co-Founder and Co-Director of Metafuture – an Australian based globally oriented foresight think-tank focused on the practical use of futures tools and methods through action learning approaches. In that capacity, she has delivered speeches and facilitated workshops for governmental and academic institutions, international associations, and non-governmental organizations around the world.​

She is currently a consultant with the Asia Development Bank. Earlier she was senior futurist with the Brunei government and coordinator of the Brunei Futures Initiative. She has previously held professorships at several universities including the Association of Centres for Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Studies and Research, University of Novi Sad, Serbia, and the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.​

She is the author of the Heroine’s Journey book series which includes, The Gold Maker, The Peace Maker and the Future Maker. Her academic books include CLA 3.0, The End of the Cow and other emerging issues, and Breathing.​

Course Details

Dates
24 – 25 November 2026
Time
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Location
Emirates Towers, 3D Office
Delivery Format
Physical
Language
English
Pre-requisites
An understanding of strategy, CEO and part of senior leadership team​

Target Audience

Executive Management, Directors, Strategy, Innovation, Foresight or Program Management roles​

Rating

(4.7/5)
10,163.14
AED
Fees

Outline

Day 1

01
Welcome & Intro
02
The Uses of the Future
03
What works in the practice of foresight: nine questions that transform the future
04
Anticipatory action learning

Day 2

01
The Six Pillars approach starting with the Futures triangle and Emerging issues analysis
02
Macrohistory and the Sarkar game
03
Causal layered analysis of the external world and the inner world

Outcomes

At the end of the course, the participant will be able to:
Apply methods to develop alternative futures, such as scenario planning and forecasting, to organizational contexts.
Analyze emerging issues using tools like the futures wheel and causal layered analysis to identify potential impacts and opportunities.
Demonstrate the ability to leverage the future as a strategic tool for driving organizational transformation and innovation.
Reflect on personal leadership practices and evaluate how futures thinking can enhance self-awareness and decision-making capabilities.

Agenda

9:30 – 10:00
Welcome & introduction
10:00 – 10:30
The Six pillars process and what works
10:30 – 10:45
Coffee break
10:45 – 11:00
Futures and learning – The unimaginable futures
11:00 – 11:15
Challenging the used future
11:15 – 12:00
Emerging issues
12:00 – 12:30
The futures wheel
12:30 – 14:00
Lunch and prayer break
14:00 – 15:00
Alternative futures
15:00 – 15:15
Coffee break
15:15 – 16:00
Creating the vision
16:00 – 17:00
Backcasting and other issues
9:30 – 10:00
Recap Previous Day and Questions
10:00 – 10:30
The futures triangle
10:30 – 10:45
Coffee break
10:45 – 12:30
The sarkar game
12:30 – 13:15
Lunch break
13:15 – 14:30
Conflict transformation
14:30 – 14:45
Coffee break
14:45 – 16:00
Causal layered analysis
16:00 – 16:30
Recap and close