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Strategic Foresight and Holistic Thinking

Unit code: HEI871

Credit points12.5 Credit Points
DurationOne Teaching Period
Contact hours36 hours
CampusHawthorn
PrerequisitesAll Stage 1 MEI units
CorequisitesNil

Aims and objectives

This unit will introduce the concept of systems thinking and design and how it is important to Future Studies and Foresight Capabilities. The purpose is to build student capabilities in the use of a suite of systems thinking and design methodologies, and apply these methods in entrepreneurship and foresight implementation. The unit forms part of stage 3 of the MEI, integrating interdisciplinary approaches.

On completion of this unit students should be able to:
  • Have developed sufficient skills in holistic and systems thinking and design to enable their use to complement entrepreneurial endeavours
  • Be familiar with some of the tools of systems and holistic thinking and design and how those tools can improve foresight and entrepreneurship practice
  • Understand what is systems thinking and design and how is it important to Future Studies and Foresight Capabilities.

Teaching methods

Classroom, and online delivery, via a combination of presentations, discussions, case studies, practical activities and, where appropriate, experiential activities. Incorporating ongoing innovative entrepreneurship teaching pedagogies.

Assessment

Participation (in class graded activity) 10-15%
Individual project 35-45%
System map 15-25%
Group Project 25-35%

Generic skills outcomes

Swinburne University of Technology works to produce higher education graduates who are capable in their chosen profession. Learners bring to Swinburne University of Technology a diverse wealth of experiences and graduate with individual understandings, abilities and attitudes.

Within this context it is the intent of unit HEI871 Strategic Foresight and Holistic Thinking that students develop the following key generic skills: 
  • Leadership skills
  • Teamwork skills
  • Analysis skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Communication skills
  • Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
  • Ability to work independently

Content

  • Intervention as Action Inquiry and Foresight
  • Systems Mapping and Diagramming Techniques
  • Soft Systems and Design Methods
  • Causal Analysis and Causal Mapping
  • Hard Systems Design
  • Large Systems Facilitation Methods
  • Searching and Designing Ideal Futures
  • Advanced Concepts in Systems Mapping

Text books

Appropriate texts are being evaluated

References

A set of current and relevant readings will be developed