Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Futures Thinking and Strategy
Course Code
SZF_146
Branch of Science
Other social sciences
ECTS
5.00
Target Audience
Business Management; Management Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Artis Birziņš
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
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.
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.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Name and describe key future thinking approaches and techniques and explain the basic principles of future scenario development methods for external characterisation of the impact of global and technological trends on economic, social processes.
Individual work and tests
Examination
Skills
1.Develop detailed future scenarios for the adaptation and strategic planning needs of organisations and plan and structure strategic projects based on possible future developments.
Individual work and tests
Individual work
Competences
1.Demonstrate strategic thinking by analysing global trends and formulating sustainable development strategies, apply future scenario development methods to plan the development of an organisation in changing circumstances;
Individual work and tests
Homework - identifying the signal of the future (or an alternative task) • Individual work
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
50.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
K Ursa team project - developing a future product (hackathon) using future thinking techniques learned in the course. |
||
|
2.
Homework - identifying the signal of the future (or an alternative task) |
25.00% from total grade
|
Test
|
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
25.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
Quiz question Task Moodle. |
||
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction to Futures Thinking
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Look Back to See Forward
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Industrial Revolutions and Beyond
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Exploring the Future and Virtual Worlds
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Evolution of AI and Business
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Evolution AI and Humanity
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Futures Thinking & Economy
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Resource Dependency Theory: Geopolitics and High-tech / Alternatively guest lecture
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Facing Global Risks
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Leading Like a Futurist
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Your Future Power
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Distant and Alternative Futures
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Development of Future Product - Group Work
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
The Future of Work
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Future Product Hackathon and Course Reflection
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
5.00
Contact hours:
30 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
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.Suitable for English stream
3.
Jane McGonigal. Imaginable, How to See Future Coming and Be Ready for Anything? Penguin, 2022.Suitable for English stream
4.
NATO Science & Technology Organization. Science & TechnologyTrends 2023-2043 Across the Physical, Biological, and Information Domains, VOLUME 2: Analysis. 2023.Suitable for English stream
5.
Vidergor, H. E., Multidimensional Curriculum Enhancing Future Thinking Literacy. Brill | Sense, 2018Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
1.
Ari Wallach. Longpath, Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs: An Antidote for Short-Termism. HarperOne, 2022.Suitable for English stream
2.
Birzins A. Why Futurism is Critical for Environmentalists, Entrepreneurs, and Historians Alike? Medium, 2023.Suitable for English stream
3.
Birzins A. 37+ Trillion Future Managers Betting on You: The Intriguing World of Cellular Futures. Medium, 2023.Suitable for English stream
4.
Birzins A. Is the Flow of Time Just an Illusion? Medium, 2023.Suitable for English stream
5.
Brad Smith, Carol Ann Browne. Tools and Weapons, The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age. Penguin, 2019.Suitable for English stream
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 humanity. Doubleday, 2018.
10.
Nouriel Roubini. MegaThreats. Little, Brown & Company, 2022.Suitable for English stream
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.Suitable for English stream
Other Information Sources
1.
Harari Y. Why humans run the world? Ted Talk, 2015.Suitable for English stream
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.Suitable for English stream
4.
Mo Gawdat. EMERGENCY EPISODE: Ex-Google Officer Finally Speaks Out On The Dangers Of AI! The Diary of a CEO.,2023.Suitable for English stream
5.
Fareed Zakaria GPS. The next evolution in tech needs to be nearly frozen to operate. See how it works. CNN, 2023.