Worldviews and Strategy for the 21st Century

Unit Code:HBF545

Credit Points	Duration	Contact Hours	Campus	Prerequisite	Corequisite
12.5 Credit Points	1 Semester	36 hours of contact in weekly or block mode	Hawthorn	Nil	Nil

Credit Points

Duration

Contact Hours

Campus

Prerequisite

Corequisite

12.5 Credit Points

1 Semester

36 hours of contact in weekly or block mode

Hawthorn

Nil

Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Master of Management (Strategic Foresight) suite.

Aims & Objectives:

After taking this unit of study participants will:

understand the centrality of the image in normative futures work generally;
identify the necessary elements that contribute to powerful future images;
be able to evaluate policy options from a depth understanding and to also be able to generate original policy options by applying different depth approaches; and
have experience in communicating these depth understandings to policy makers.

Teaching Methods:

A range of teaching methods will be used, including lectures, presentations and small group activities

Assessment:

Critical analysis: 20-30%
Learning journal: 10-20%
Policy statement: 30-50%
Class Contribution:10%

Generic Skills Outcomes:

Learners bring to Swinburne University of Technology a range of experiences and graduate with individual understandings, abilities and attitudes. Within this context it is the intent of Swinburne that all its graduates:

are capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
operate effectively iand ethically in work and community situations
are adaptable and manage change
contribute in an entrepreneurial and innovative way within their business, workplace or community
are aware of the dynamic nature of environmeare aware of the local and international environment in which they will be contributing (eg socio-cultural, economic, natural)

Content:

The purpose of this unit is to explore the dimensions of the early 21st century from a number of viewpoints and using a number of frameworks, perspectives and approaches. The unit will sketch in a number of key areas of continuity and change thereby permitting students to understand the nature of the forward view at a global level and in a variety of contexts. It will serve to contextualise their more detailed work in other areas of foresight implementation and strategy.

Topics covered include:

Image of the Future
Moral Philosophy
The Image and Policy Development
An exploration of evil
Moral Reasoning
Transcending Conflict
Assimilation, Contrast Effect
Future Generations
Transpersonal Ethics

References:

Baumeister, R (1999) Evil: Inside Human Violence and Cruelty, W.H.Freeman, New York.
Bell, W (2004), Foundations of Future Studies, Vol 2, Transaction Pubs., New Brunswick.
Bloom, H (2005) Reinventing Capitalism, Doubleday, New York.
Kapoor, R & Serra, J. (2002) 'Impaling the future'. Futures 34, 685-692.
Polak, F (1973) The Image of the Future, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rachels, J (1999) The Elements of Moral Philosophy, McGraw-Hill, Boston.
Slaughter, RA, Inayatullah, S & Ramos, JM. (2005) The knowledge base of futures studies. Brisbane, Australia, Foresight International.