Future Foresight and Strategic Governance

Foundations and Theories of Futures and Foresight Studies
(prof. Jari Kaivo-oja)

This course includes introduction to the foundations of futures studies. The focus of this course is on key philosophies, theories and concepts of futures studies. It includes review to relevant futures literacy and key theoretical approaches of futures studies in history and today. The course discusses also time, space and material horizons of futures studies. The concept of time science and the role of alternative futures will be discussed in the lectures of the course.  The course discusses also rationality of futures oriented behavior starting from key concepts of human behavior and rationality. Theoretical and practical rationality of futures thinking and action will be discussed in the lectures. The course provides historical overview of the evolution of methods and concepts from strategic analysis to integral futures. The paradigm of modern foresight research will be presented and discussed. Key question of philosophy of science are linked to the methodology of futures studies and foresight. During this introduction course, students are trained to utilize European Union´s “For Learn” Foresight Manual and Tools and fundamental knowledge bases of futures/foresight studies.

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in Future Studies and Foresight
(prof. Jari Kaivo-oja)

This course will focus on science, technology and innovation (STI) in futures studies and foresight. The borderline of foresight and innovation research is today very important field of futures studies and technology focused foresight and assessments. This course includes introduction to new ways of approaching science, technology and innovation management in futures oriented analyses. The course will present key methods and tools of technology foresight and innovation management. Today technology foresight is regarded as the most upstream element of the technology development process in organizations. STI foresight provides inputs for the formulation of technology policies and strategies that guide the development of the technological infrastructure. In addition, technology foresight provides support to innovation ecosystem management, and incentives and assistance to companies and corporations in the domain of technology management and technology transfer, leading to enhanced competitiveness and growth. During this course, students are trained to utilize the UNIDO Technology Foresight Manual (2 Volumes) and Tools and other technology foresight tools.

Global Challenges, Regional Development and sustainable Futures
(prof. Arūnas Augustinaitis)

To introduce students to key trends in global cultural evolution and main theoretical and practical issues in modern cultural research. Theoretical knowledge is provided, and it is sought to develop the ability to apply it in practice, argue and acquire transferable skills, namely, to work in a team and prepare projects.

Scenario Thinking and Strategic Foresight
(dr. Gintaras Labutis)

The purpose of the course unit (module) is to form competences enabling the student to independently organise a scenario building process by identifying global challenges, risks and uncertainties, modelling future images and making generalisations and conclusions.

The module:

1. a) develops critical thinking and builds competences and skills necessary for quality policy formation and understanding of future risks and uncertainties
2. b) forms subject competences enabling to identify the development alternatives of the country, society, higher education and study system and the innovation system, model future images, make generalisations and draft recommendations regarding policy implementation measures

The majority of study methods under this module are oriented towards the student’s experimentation and learning through practice.

Research Methodology in Futures Studies

The aim of the Research Methodology in Futures Studies module is to introduce students to key trends in global cultural evolution and main theoretical and practical issues in modern research. The module of the Research Methodology in Futures Studies aims to introduce students to the different methods of research methodology and data analysis in future studies, including the use of qualitative and quantitative as well as participatory technique approaches. Theoretical knowledge is provided, and it is sought to develop the ability to apply it in practice, and acquire transferable skills, namely, to work in a team and prepare projects. This module covers the entire process of research from the formulation of research proposal to dissemination of results. It guides students in the preparation and planning of research projects in futures studies through the knowledge, skills and awareness of elements required in social research. The module also enables students to interpret and critically appraise research findings with respect to design and data analysis. At the end of the module the students will demonstrate critical and practical understanding of the Research Methodology in Futures Studies  and the ability to apply different approaches to the data collection, understanding of qualitative and quantitative analysis and the awareness of ethical and access issues related to industrial collaboration both in terms of data collection and use of data.

Road mapping Methods and Technologies

The course on Road Mapping Methods and Technologies is composed of lectures, seminars and self-study work intended to study mapping methods and technologies used in examining and developing foresight, scenarios and visions for organisational and technological evolution as well as technological change research programmes. The course is intended to help perceive and analyse the main principles of mapping applied in examining technological and organisational evolution.

Multilevel Governance and Smart Administration
(prof. Jari Stenvall)

Today, organizations and their operating environments are complex entities. This has brought about the new need to manage organizations as complex systems and to understand the logic of multilevel governance and smart administration. Given the salient nature of current economic constraints and productivity demands, including significant fiscal tightening across societies, the need to analyses organizational smartness seems all the greater.

Smart administrations have abilities to convert change demands into concrete objectives which can be implemented in an appropriate way.

The second component of smartness involves the elegance with which it interprets the experiences of life. The role of knowledge is at the core of managing smart organization. In terms of smart administration, the resources organizations deploy are neither given, nor discovered, but created in the process of making sense of the knowledge.

The course explores the nature of smart administration with regard to both individual organizations and multilevel governance including multiple organizational ecosystems. The main ideas behind modern systems theory (MST) and the logic developed by the MST theorists in the domain of organizational smartness are pinpointed in the course.

Based on research evidence, the basic structure of the organizational features of smartness consists of leadership, strategy and foresight, people, partnerships and resources, and organizational processes.

Corporate Foresight and Business Intelligence
(prof. Steffen Roth)

Corporate Foresight and Business Intelligence in the 21st century clearly is about the digital transformation of both business organizations and the business environment. Participants in this course will learn to use and scrutinize tools for broadband environmental screening, for the strategic management of complexity, and for the systematic anticipation of future challenges. Students will also explore how up-to-date and next management theories create new horizons for strategic business performance monitoring and new venture discovery.