Futures Thinking and Strategy

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:2.00

Study Course Accepted:28.06.2024 15:31:00

Study Course Information
Course Code:		SZF_146		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		3.33		ECTS:		5.00
Branch of Science:		Management		Target Audience:		Business Management; Management Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Artis Birziņš
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		10	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		20
Classes (count)		5	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		10
Total Contact Hours								30
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Students with curiosity and an open-minded approach to exploring different fields, perspectives and future scenarios are welcome. A willingness to actively participate in discussions is essential. These prerequisites will ensure that students are ready to fully engage in course activities, exchange ideas and create forward-looking strategies.
Objective:
The aim of the course is to develop students' skills necessary to function successfully in an increasingly changing world. Students will gain a deep understanding of the key trends and technologies shaping our future. The course will teach future thinking methods, which are necessary for far-sighted forecasting and development of strategies to achieve both personal, professional and societal goals. This will enable students not only to respond to future challenges, but also to actively shape them using innovative approaches and tools.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Introduction to Futures Thinking			Lectures		1.00	other
2	Look Back to See Forward			Lectures		1.00	other
3	Industrial Revolutions and Beyond			Lectures		1.00	other
4	Exploring the Future and Virtual Worlds			Classes		1.00	other
5	Evolution of AI and Business			Lectures		1.00	other
6	Evolution AI and Humanity			Classes		1.00	other
7	Futures Thinking & Economy			Lectures		1.00	other
8	Resource Dependency Theory: Geopolitics and High-tech / Alternatively guest lecture			Lectures		1.00	other
9	Facing Global Risks			Classes		1.00	other
10	Leading Like a Futurist			Lectures		1.00	other
11	Your Future Power			Lectures		1.00	other
12	Distant and Alternative Futures			Lectures		1.00	other
13	Development of Future Product - Group Work			Classes		1.00	other
14	The Future of Work			Lectures		1.00	other
15	Future Product Hackathon and Course Reflection			Classes		1.00	other
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Course team project - future product development (hackathon) using future thinking methods learned in the course. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Students' knowledge is evaluated in a 10-point system. 70% of the grade is made up of the group project evaluation. 30% is the question test score.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Upon completion of the "Future Thinking and Strategy" course, students will acquire a broad set of knowledge and skills necessary for growth in a rapidly changing global and business environment. As part of the course, methods for creating future scenarios and long-term strategic planning techniques will be presented and practically learned, allowing students to understand and predict global trends. By acquiring this knowledge, students will be able to analyze and adapt to economic, social and technological changes, as well as successfully develop sustainable strategies that meet the requirements and challenges of today and the future.
Skills:		Students will learn trend identification and interpretation skills - analyze industry, technology and market and social trends. Students will also learn to develop detailed future scenarios that will allow organizations to prepare for possible changes, as well as outline and plan strategic projects. The course will also emphasize communication and presentation skills so that students can clearly and convincingly present their ideas and strategic plans. Students will learn the imaginative leadership and creative solution development skills needed to effectively address potential challenges and seize future opportunities.
Competencies:		Students will develop a range of essential competencies needed to successfully manage and adapt to future challenges and opportunities. Strategic thinking - allows you to analyze global trends and develop sustainable strategies. The skill of developing future scenarios - provides the ability to plan in changing conditions. Promotion of innovation, according to future needs. Making effective decisions in complex situations - based on data and future forecasts. Change management - involves motivating and leading people. Critical thinking and problem-solving competence to identify and effectively address challenges.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Birziņš. A. Ko mākslīgā intelekta ekspansija nozīmē sabiedrībai? Skaidro RSU viesdocētājs. Latvijas sabiedriskie mediji, 2024.
2	David Christian. Future Stories, a User's Guide to the Future. Bantam Press, 2022.
3	Jane McGonigal. Imaginabe, How to See Future Coming and Be Ready for Anything? Penguin, 2022.
4	NATO Science & Technology Organization. Science & TechnologyTrends 2023-2043 Across the Physical, Biological, and Information Domains, VOLUME 2: Analysis. 2023.
5	Vidergor, H. E., Multidimensional Curriculum Enhancing Future Thinking Literacy. Brill \| Sense, 2018
Additional Reading
1	Ari Wallach. Longpath, Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs: An Antidote for Short-Termism. HarperOne, 2022.
2	Birzins A. Why Futurism is Critical for Environmentalists, Entrepreneurs, and Historians Alike? Medium, 2023.
3	Birzins A. 37+ Trillion Future Managers Betting on You: The Intriguing World of Cellular Futures. Medium, 2023.
4	Birzins A. Is the Flow of Time Just an Illusion? Medium, 2023.
5	Brad Smith, Carol Ann Browne. Tools and Weapons, The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age. Penguin, 2019.
6	Chris Miller. Chip Wars. Scribner, 2022.
7	Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Quifan. AI 2041 Ten Visions for Our Future. Currency, 2021.
8	Klaus Schwab. Shaping the Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Penguin Random House, 2018.
9	Michio Kaku. The Future of Humaity. Doubleday, 2018.
10	Nouriel Roubini. MegaThreats. Little, Brown & Company, 2022.
11	Ray Dalio. Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order. Simon & Schuster, 2021.
12	Reid Hoffman. The Startup of You (Revised and Updated). Penguin Random House, 2022.
13	Yuval Harari. Homo Deus, A Brief History of Tomorrow. Vintage, 2017.
14	Yuval Harari. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. Vintage, 2018.
Other Information Sources
1	Harari Y. Why humans run the world? Ted Talk, 2015.
2	Christian D. The history of our world in 18 minutes. Ted Talk, 2013
3	Sam Harris. WARNING: ChatGPT Could Be The Start Of The End! The Diary of a CEO, 2023.
4	Mo Gawdat. EMERGENCY EPISODE: Ex-Google Officer Finally Speaks Out On The Dangers Of AI! The Diary of a CEO.,2023.
5	Fareed Zakaria GPS. The next evolution in tech needs to be nearly frozen to operate. See how it works. CNN, 2023.