NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ915594
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Jan
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-3108
EISSN: N/A
Maximising the Effectiveness of a Scenario Planning Process: Tips for Scenario Planners in Higher Education
Sayers, Nicola
Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education, v15 n1 p14-18 Jan 2011
Scenario planning is a tool which can help organisations and people to think about, and plan for, the long-term future. In basic terms, it involves creating a number of in-depth scenarios (stories), each of which tells of a different possible future for an organisation or issue, and considering how each different future might influence decision-making in the organisation. The normative approach to planning or strategy starts with decision-making, and assumes that the future that will follow will be a result of decisions taken in the present--it is linear. By contrast, scenario planning assumes that the future is unpredictable, and that decision-making is strengthened by adopting a more open-ended and flexible approach to the future. It is particularly helpful for thinking about complex and rapidly changing situations. For this reason, scenario planning, which originally emerged in the corporate world, has in recent years been increasingly used within the higher education sector. "A Guide to Scenario Planning in Higher Education" (Sayers 2010), published by the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, provides a good introduction to scenario planning in a higher education context, and is a practical step-by-step guide for those interested in running a scenario planning process within a higher education institution. This article builds on that earlier publication, by highlighting ten key tips for running an effective scenario planning process. Each tip offers "best practice" advice, and is intended to help scenario practitioners in higher education to maximise the effectiveness of their scenario planning process. This article provides additional food for thought for those who already know what scenario planning is and how the process can work. (Contains 1 figure.)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A