Topics include: 

Adaptive thinking for complex policy development

• An overview of the concepts and principles of complex adaptive systems; 
• Application through group-work of those principles to contemporary issues identified by participants to better understand complexity and how to respond to it; 
• An overview of how we can use the concepts of complex adaptive systems (CAS) to better understand human behaviour relating to decision-making, strategy and policy development and the implications for leading and managing as adaptive organisation and projects

Foresighting skills to design and implement adaptive practices

• An overview of the nature of change, complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity;
• An overview of the concepts and principles of systems thinking, complex adaptive systems; 
• An overview of foresight work and the practices of scenario planning

Strategic thinking and planning in a complex and uncertain world

• Framing strategic thinking and planning in an uncertain and complex policy environment
• Understanding the nature of change and how that influences the nature of policy and strategy development
• Understanding ambiguity and uncertainty when undertaking strategic thinking and strategic planning and how to respond to each
• Models and frameworks for strategic thinking and planning
• Principles of Systems Thinking and Complex Adaptive Systems to understand complex and uncertain business/policy landscape 
• Application of models and principles for undertaking strategic thinking and planning 
• Understanding and managing entrained human behaviour patterns and their impact on strategy development 

Learning outcomes:

Adaptive thinking for complex policy development

• Recognise how to lead and manage in a complex and volatile environment 
• Recognise how to lead and support cultural change 
• Apply skills and techniques that will assist adaptive policy and strategy development 
• Apply the principles of complex adaptive systems to better understand complex environments 
• Identify how people work together using the frameworks and principles of complex adaptive systems 
• Identify the worldview of complex adaptive systems 

Foresighting skills to design and implement adaptive practices

• Participants attending the course will have new ways of perceiving and thinking about complex and uncertain policy environments
• The course will provide the capability to develop the content to lead and manage for adaptation to a changing business environment
• The capability to develop and share new narratives that impact on cultural change, policy and strategy development
• Learn the skills and techniques of foresight work that will assist to inform policy and strategy development and address a range of other issues
• The capacity to challenge belief systems about the dynamics of the business landscape and the implications this may have on the direction of the organisation and its consequential performance

Strategic thinking and planning in a complex and uncertain world

• Understanding the nature of change and how that influences the framing of policy and strategy development
• Understanding the distinctions between strategic thinking and strategic planning
• The capability to identify the difference between ambiguity and uncertainty and how to respond accordingly to develop strategy
• The capability to identify uncertainty, understand it and include the implications of it throughout the strategic plan
• The capability to design a strategic plan and develop statements of outcome with the associated performance indicators and activities
• The capability to better understand people during strategy and policy development and how to better manage relationships to achieve intended business outcomes

Who should attend?

• Any sector that needs to understand the nature of its business environment and develop an organised response with the capacity to identify emerging trends and be able to respond to them
• Policy development and implementation business units
• This course is suitable for APS6 - SES, or equivalent level.