Futuring Tools for Strategic Quality Planning in Education

Rating:
Summary: Very good planning techniques
Review: The book gives good and very detailed information. Every chapter is organized similary so it is very easy to read. It is definetely a superb source for both organizational and individual future planning.

Rating:
Summary: Review of Alexander and Serfass' Futuring Tools
Review: The text, "Futuring Tools for Strategic Quality Planning in Education" was designed to help educators envision the future. I believe the tools offered provide a systematic approach to futuring using practical tools which can be applied to the strategic planning process. The authors have been educators for many years and the techniques offered can be used in many situations.

I plan to utilize these tools in preparation of the Strategic Plan for my office. The Office of Sponsored Programs (Grants Administration) is new office to support grant writing and funding activities at my university. Therefore, I plan to use the Delphi Technique, Trend Extrapolations, and Scenario Planning to solicit input from the various colleges thought the campus. It is necessary to determine the trends, interest, experience, goals and objectives which relate to grant funding needs to build.

I believe the strengths of the futuring process are in the systemic manner in which an organization can analyze trends to determine the potential impact to the organization. Once the trends are recognized and the futuring analysis completed, organizations are better able to position themselves to take advantage of future trends or to avoid others. If we do not consider the future, then we are at the mercy of events and may not have the ability to respond in a timely manner. When we reflect upon the future, we are better prepared to envision and control the outcome of the future.

I believe that the weaknesses are accepting trends or the predictions as factual. We can react to those who are authorities on particular subjects as if what they have predicted is a certainly. Sometimes acting upon the predictions of those who have placed themselves as authorities may in fact bring to bear the prediction, rather than the prediction being the impetus for our actions.