Applied Futures Thinking

Learn IDEO’s human-centered futuring process: a rigorous way to look a few years past your planning horizon, pressure-test the direction you've set against several plausible futures, and turn what you see into decisions you can make today. The entire process is grounded in real human needs, so the futures you identify are usable and specific instead of abstract. This course is built for the people who own or shape where their organization is headed over the next 3 to 5 years, and every exercise is anchored to a real strategic decision you bring into the course. You'll learn from Jennifer Lo, a practicing futurist doing this work with IDEO clients right now. If the strategy you put in place keeps getting outpaced by how fast the market moves, this course will help you make choices that hold up longer and spot the opportunities others miss. Course Outcomes Define a preferred future for your organization and translate it into strategic choices you can make today. Recognize early signals of change and understand larger industry trends and forces relevant to you. Lead strategic conversations about the future, grounded in evidence and relevant to your business, to help your team make confident decisions. Create visions of the future, specific to the people you're serving and their needs, so your team sees what's possible and why it's worth building.