The Sixth Sense: Accelerating Organizational Learning with Scenarios

Kees van der Heijden (Scotland) is Director of the Centre for Scenario Planning and Future Studies, the Graduate School of Business at the University of Strathclyde, U.K. The Centre for Scenario Planning and Future Studies Members of the Centre for Scenario Planning and Future Studies of the University of Strathclyde Graduate School of Business (USGSB) have been involved in scenario and futures work over a significant period of time, both in a consultant and an educational capacity. This combination has resulted in the development of expertise in scenario planning and future studies that is difficult to match. The Centrea s expertise is demonstrated in the range of scenario planning and future studies assignments that have been undertaken for major organizations, as well as in the production of leading edge research and publication about scenario planning and future studies, and decision--making. This combination differentiates the Centre from other organizations in the field. The Centre has developed an international reputation for the design and delivery of purposeful scenario planning assignments. These have involved private sector organizations from a wide range of industry groupings on an international basis, and public sector organizations from local to national governments. The internal scenario teams drawn from all these organizations has included key decision and policy makers, resulting in top--level commitment to participation and active adaptive learning from the outcomes.