Leadership, Social Change and Ethical Considerations in Foresight

COURSE OVERVIEW

Designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to navigate the leadership challenges and ethical complexities of leading social change initiatives within the context of strategic foresight. This course examines the role of leadership in shaping futures, delves into the social change theories that underpin the practice of foresight and examines the ethical implications of foresight practices. It equips participants to harness the transformative potential of anticipatory governance in addressing societal challenges in a responsible manner. The course is aimed at professionals committed to making a positive impact, integrating case studies, leadership strategies, social change lenses and ethical frameworks to foster responsible, inclusive, and sustainable future-oriented decision-making.

Facilitator

Dr. Marius Oosthuizen
Senior Lecturer
Dubai Future Academy

Dr. Marius Oosthuizen is a futurist, academic, consultant and facilitator. With a dual Masters degrees in strategic foresight and social and political ethics, as well as a PhD in leadership, Dr. Oosthuizen helps executives in government, business and civil society build future-ready institutions.

He holds the position of Director, Scenarios at the World Energy Council (WEC) and Director for Learning at the School of International Futures (SOIF), both in London. As an adjunct faculty member of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), he teaches the annual Mastering Strategic Foresight elective on the executive MBA. He is Senior Faculty with the Dubai Future Academy, at the Dubai Future Foundation.

As a speaker, Dr. Oosthuizen has the unique ability to blend political and economic analysis, with social and cultural nuances at both local and international levels.

Pre-requisites:
None

Delivery Format:
Physical

Language:
English

Date:
23 – 25 September 2024

Time:
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Location:
3D Printed Office, Emirates Towers, Dubai, UAE

Target Audience:
Mid-career professionals in government or business seeking to deepen their capabilities in leadership, strategy and policy making.

Fees:

AED 8,500
AED 5,500
Per Participant

COURSE OUTLINE

Day 1

Introduction to leadership theories and concepts in foresight

What is leadership?
Leadership theories and approaches
The leadership domain (self, followers, projects and organizations, institutions, and societal leadership).
Leading from the future (Vision and strategy)
Leading foresight initiatives
Futures leadership in government & business

Day 2

Overview of social change theories and their application in foresight

Introduction to Social Change Theories
Case study: How social change informs national and regional futures.
Harnessing social change theory for analysis and design
Leading social change
Self-reflection: Personal leadership and social change aspirations

Day 3

Examination of ethics and values in foresight practice

Introduction to Ethics and Values Frameworks
Case study: Ethical dilemmas in futures of business & society, governance, and social outcomes
Integrating ethics and values in foresight – Applied Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) method
Ethical in decision-making and leadership
Exploring personal leadership and ethical commitments in foresight use

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Learning Objectives

Foresight Integration Proficiency: Ability to integrate strategic foresight, futures thinking, and anticipatory governance into public and private sector planning.
Analytical and Interpretive Competence: Mastery in identifying, analyzing, and interpreting global and local trends, drivers, wildcards, and shocks. Proficient use of both quantitative and qualitative data to construct foresight scenarios.
Ethical Leadership and Change Management: Demonstrated understanding of the dynamic interplay between various political, economic, social, technological, legal, regulatory, environmental, and value-based factors.

Learning Outcomes

Leadership in Foresight and Social Change: Participants will develop a robust understanding of the nature and role of leadership in envisioning and driving social change through strategic foresight. They will learn how to apply leadership theories, drawing on various models and approaches, to enhance foresight practices to effectively guide communities and organizations towards sustainable futures.
Integration of Social Change: Theories in Foresight: Students will gain insights into social change theories and how they inform the practice of foresight at the analytical and design level. They will explore the dynamics of social change, looking at driver of change, the role of power, ideas, markets and culture in driving change, and learn to apply these concepts to anticipate and shape societal transformations responsibly.
Ethical Frameworks in Anticipatory Governance: The course will provide the participants with the ability to identify and analyze the ethical considerations inherent in foresight and future-oriented decision-making. It will equip them with ethical and values frameworks to evaluate and navigate the ethical dilemmas that arise when leading change, ensuring responsible and inclusive outcomes.

In collaboration with