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Leadership & Management

Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning for Leaders

Organisations that anticipate change are better placed to seize opportunities and avoid shocks. Strategic foresight provides structured methods for exploring possible futures, identifying emerging trends and testing strategies against different scenarios. This course introduces horizon scanning, driver analysis, scenario construction, wind-tunnelling strategies and early warning indicators, helping leaders make more robust long-term decisions in an uncertain environment.

5 days Classroom or live online English
Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants
Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF
Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Traditional forecasting assumes the future will resemble the past. Strategic foresight helps you prepare for multiple plausible futures, challenge assumptions and build strategies that remain sound when conditions change.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

  • Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
  • Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
  • Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.
Course methodology

How you will learn.

Participants learn through horizon-scanning exercises, scenario-building workshops, strategy stress-testing simulations, case studies and group presentations.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the principles and value of strategic foresight
  • Conduct horizon scanning to identify signals of change
  • Analyse key drivers and critical uncertainties
  • Build plausible and challenging future scenarios
  • Test strategies and options against scenarios
  • Establish early warning indicators and foresight processes
Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

  • Senior executives and board members
  • Strategy and planning professionals
  • Business development and innovation leaders
  • Risk managers
  • Public sector policy and planning professionals
Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

  • Horizon scanning
  • Driver analysis
  • Scenario construction
  • Strategy stress-testing
  • Early warning systems
  • Long-term strategic thinking
Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Introduction to Strategic Foresight

  1. 09:00–09:54Why forecasting is not enough
  2. 09:54–10:48Foresight methods and their uses
  3. 10:48–11:00Time horizons and uncertainty
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Time horizons and uncertainty (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Cognitive barriers to thinking about the future
  7. 13:06–14:00Exercise: Identifying assumptions in current strategy

Day 2Horizon Scanning and Trends

  1. 09:00–09:54Sources of signals and trends
  2. 09:54–10:48PESTLE and STEEP analysis
  3. 10:48–11:00Weak signals and wild cards
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Weak signals and wild cards (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Organising scanning in the organisation
  7. 13:06–14:00Workshop: Horizon scanning exercise

Day 3Building Scenarios

  1. 09:00–09:54Identifying key drivers and critical uncertainties
  2. 09:54–10:48Scenario matrix and alternative methods
  3. 10:48–11:00Developing scenario narratives
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Developing scenario narratives (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Making scenarios challenging and credible
  7. 13:06–14:00Workshop: Constructing four scenarios

Day 4Using Scenarios in Strategy

  1. 09:00–09:54Wind-tunnelling strategies across scenarios
  2. 09:54–10:48Robust and flexible strategic options
  3. 10:48–11:00Contingency planning and real options thinking
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Contingency planning and real options thinking (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Communicating scenarios to decision-makers
  7. 13:06–14:00Simulation: Stress-testing a strategic plan

Day 5Embedding Foresight

  1. 09:00–09:54Early warning indicators and monitoring
  2. 09:54–10:48Foresight governance and roles
  3. 10:48–11:00Integrating foresight with planning and risk management
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Integrating foresight with planning and risk management (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Building a future-oriented culture
  7. 13:06–14:00Capstone: Foresight action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Dubai 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 23 Nov - 27 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 23 Nov - 27 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 4 Jan - 8 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Jan - 8 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 11 Jan - 15 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Jan - 15 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 22 Feb - 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Feb - 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Mar - 12 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 15 Mar - 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Mar - 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 22 Mar - 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Mar - 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 26 Apr - 30 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 26 Apr - 30 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 3 May - 7 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 3 May - 7 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 10 May - 14 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 24 May - 28 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 24 May - 28 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Jul - 16 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 26 Jul - 30 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 26 Jul - 30 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 9 Aug - 13 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Aug - 13 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Vienna 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 13 Sept - 17 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Sept - 17 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 25 Oct - 29 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 25 Oct - 29 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Barcelona 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Nov - 12 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 22 Nov - 26 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 22 Nov - 26 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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