This course will prepare decision-makers and managers for the complexities of dealing with change and proactively steer their divisions or departments through times of uncertainty, turmoil, ambiguity and volatility toward the realisation of a preferred and probable future and creation of shared value. It is about broadening perceptions and providing coherent contexts within which leaders, managers and their teams can mobilise and work proactively to achieve strategic goals.

This workshop harnesses the latest research advances from the field of contextual behavioural science in shaping and moulding groups and individuals to recognise ingrained systemic behaviours and habitual, patterned responses that are self-defeating and unproductive. In this workshop, foresighting exercises are used to systematically replace these attributes with adaptive thinking and acquiring a level of organisational plasticity for strategic responses in dealing effectively with a range of foreseeable futures being shaped by global or local trends and drivers.

The workshop is led by the behavioural psychologist Dr Robert Styles, an ANU PhD whose research focus is on the application of behavioural science principles within organisational contexts.

Topics to be covered:

• Define a set of strategic agenda questions and from this develop a focal question(s)
• Identify Critical–Uncertain trends and drivers in the system and chart adaptive challenges
• Define ‘Axes of Uncertainty’ that will delineate the scenarios
• Draft future scenarios – particularly preferred and probable scenarios that explore a portfolio of outcomes including no-regrets moves, real options and big bets

Learning outcomes:

• Perspective on adaptive challenges your organisation is facing now and in the future
• Identify responses to trends and drivers impacting and shaping the behaviour of your organisation
• Strategically influence or coordinate organisation-wide efforts in realising tangible goals
• Communicate with impact in creating a robust organisational vision for the future
• Become a strategic-thinking and influential leader and advisor

Outcome:

Participating individuals and organisations will be more adequately equipped to response to the challenges of this century. For example, in the areas of food, water and energy security while taking into consideration gender equity and social inclusion. The issues being faced by the public and associated sectors are complex and seeming intractable. An effective response, I believe, will necessarily be multi-disciplinary for those who rise to the challenge. Hence the design of the program – an accessible, well informed, deliberative process that catalyses innovative responses from individuals within nested and interrelated team and community arrangements to the challenges they face within their sphere of influence.

Anticipated behavioural and business impacts of the course include:

Participants will learn to:

• Explore probable (predictable), plausible (contingent) and preferred (chosen or desired) futures through reflection and research
• Deconstruct the barriers, uncertainties, hurdles and other mental mindsets that mitigate against strategic foresighting
• Plan for preferred futures, assess the weaknesses, inflexibilities or strengths of present leadership, strategies, structures or processes and their appropriateness or fitness-for-purpose
• Expand and optimise a repertoire of strategies, structures and skillsets (e.g. adaptive, prosocial leadership) that can best respond or adapt to different preferred scenarios at both an individual as well as an organisational level
• Explore systematically the steps required for an agile and responsive organisation, and which players within an organisation will need to drive such change

Who should attend?

Leaders (SES Band 1&2) and managers (EL1&2).

Selected participants should hold a mid or senior-level policy, practice, research or reform role, in either government, civil society or the private sector. Ideally, they should have completed at least an Undergraduate or Masters level tertiary qualification, have at least five years’ work experience at mid to senior levels, and have a good understanding of the discipline they are representing.

Online training: How it works

This is a real-time, date-specific course, in which you will join live classes, engage and connect with experts, other course participants and the Executive Education team. Here’s how it works:

• Pre-course live session. This is an opportunity for you to grab a cuppa and join our meet and greet before the course commences.
• Practice + Study. Set aside up to 2 hours per day – this time commitment will vary depending on how deeply you choose to engage with the material. It is up to you.
• Course pack. Each participant will receive a carefully curated workbook, which includes everything you need to guide you through the course.
• Live sessions with presenter. This is a specified date and time for you to come together with the presenter and other participants to consolidate your learning.
• Post-course. On completion of the course, you will receive your post-course resources for your reference and further learning.
  

Why choose online training?

• No time off work – study and practice when you can.
• Busy schedule? No problem, you can go at your own pace, join just the live classes, and do the course work whenever suits you best. We know that work and family obligations can be overwhelming. Mix and match the schedule to fit your life.
• No travel. This is a course right at your fingertips. With no travel expenses, this is a very affordable option for high-level training with world-leading experts.
• Live interaction with world-leading experts. You’ll have direct access to all the best resources and trainers.
• Working remotely? With the online and distance format, we welcome participants from around the world to join us.

FAQs

What if I can’t make a live session? No problem, we understand you are busy. Live sessions are recorded and transcribed for you to catch up in your own time.

What if I’m in a different time zone? All advertised course times are scheduled in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) otherwise known as GMT+11. Convert for your time zone here.

What if I am not tech savvy? As long as you have access to a phone or computer, you’ll have no problems. This is a low-tech course designed for everyone. If needed our team is here to help – contact us at csee@anu.edu.au.

What if I have questions? We would love to hear from you. Contact our team at csee@anu.edu.au.