Article
The call for strategic foresight is louder than ever
, Antti-Jussi Tahvanainen
Strategic Foresight in Business Management
Tools for Creating Strategic and Competitive Advantage
The Strategic Foresight in Business Management program is a comprehensive introduction to the approaches and tools of industry foresight, and how these link to the management decision-making process to create strategic advantage.
Under conditions of constantly growing volatility and ambiguity, competitive advantage goes to those companies who best deduce the forces acting on their industry, and who most capably adapt their businesses to profit from them. Therefore, a lot rests on an executive manager's superior ability to judge the course and timing of new initiatives under uncertain conditions.
After completing this program, participants will be able to apply the industry foresight tools to their own company and industry. They will be equipped with skills for future management to be used in their own organization’s planning and strategy process.
Up to 4.5 European Credits (EC) can be transferred from this program to the Aalto Executive MBA or Aalto MBA program.
Starting
September 19, 2019
Benefits
This program illustrates with examples, activities and guest speakers, how to develop an integrated management foresight perspective to make better business decisions under conditions of external uncertainty, and turn this advantage into profitable real-world products and services.
Gain new tools and methodologies for market foresight
Improve competence to turn foresight into new business initiatives
Learn how to test your strategic choices against current cross-industry change drivers
Develop skills in using foresight approaches in decision-making and creating strategic advantage
Be better prepared for the future
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By attending this program you will be able to:
- Determine and apply analytical frameworks for decisions whose variables are too uncertain or too long range to be evaluated with standard analytical tools
- Understand appropriate uses of business forecasting and planning, and current best practices, including a critical analysis of the limits of these tools in interpreting the competitive environment and creating strategic advantage
- Apply theoretical and practical experience using methods of industry foresight, including the ability to select among and critically apply the toolkit options, to better interpret the evolving external environment and manage associated risks and opportunities
- Integrate the tools of industry foresight into the rest of the business strategy, decision formation and leadership decision-making process
- Turn industry foresight perspectives into new initiatives, products, services, business models, or customer interfaces
- Critically assess the business forecasts of competing businesses, industry “gurus”, management consultants, or the media
For
The Strategic Foresight in Business Management program is designed for senior executives and managers responsible for strategic decision-making and direction-setting in their company, business or division.
It is also relevant for
- Leaders who need approaches and tools that help them understand industry change and future operating conditions, and how to transfer these insights into creating strategic advantage
- Management consultants, or those with interest in strategic planning or business adaptation to market and technology change
Contents and Schedule
The program incorporates interactive workshop-style lectures, group work, videos and guest speakers, blending analytical models with worked examples and real-world situations.
Based in theory, it is decidedly pragmatic in style and approach, selecting the best materials and solutions from both academic and business sources.
Modules
Instructors
Antti-Jussi Tahvanainen
Dr. Antti-Jussi Tahvanainen is the Manager of Innovation Policy at Finnish Forest Industries Federations, VP Ecosystem Strategy at Corymbus Asset Management Ltd, and the founder of Oraklon.
Dr. Tahvanainen is an expert in assessing the competitiveness and investibility of emerging industries and analyzes the role of technology in economic renewal, and the capabilities of firms to capture value and determines the appropriate financial vehicles for their growth. He helps executives in generating co-creative foresight for their endeavors in user-driven innovation and business renewal.
At Stanford University, he has co-authored the Playbook for Strategic Foresight and Innovation, a set of practical ideation tools inspired by DARPA.
Dr. Tahvanainen wields a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Management with a focus on International Strategy as well as an M.Sc. in Technology Management from Aalto University.
Eeva Vilkkumaa
Apulaisprofessori, Aalto-yliopisto
Eeva Vilkkumaa is an Assistant Professor of Management Science in the Department of Information and Service Economy at Aalto University.
Professor Vilkkumaa is an expert in modeling uncertainties and developing mathematical models to support decision making and resource allocation at companies and public organizations.
Program Fee
The fee for the Strategic Foresight in Business Management program is € 4,100 (+ VAT).
The program fee includes learning materials, lunches, and coffee breaks during the program days.
Please note that the program fee does not include travel expenses or accommodation. VAT is applicable to private persons and Finnish companies.
Registration
Register for the program by August 23, 2019.