An overview of the Houston Foresight program, which grants a Master's Degree as well as Certificates

1. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Dr. Andy Hines
ahines@uh.edu
832.367.5575

2. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists

3. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Just What Is Foresight?
A relatively new professional discipline that:
• Studies change and its implications in the context of the
future.
• Identifies a range of plausible alternative futures; it is not
about predicting THE future
• Synthesizes insights from a wide variety of fields

4. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Why Foresight?
Guide policy
Identify new services/offerings
Craft Strategy
Stimulate Innovation

5. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
5 Level Curriculum

6. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Typical Course Sequence

7. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Learning Outcomes

8. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
The “Framework” of Foresight Activities

9. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Our Approach: Framework Foresight
Present
2. Current
Assessment
& Scanning
4. Alternative
4. Alternative
7. Futures
to Plans
8. Indicators
5. Preferred
9. Summary
Past
Future

10. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
How Existing Tools/Methods Fit
Framing organizational foresight audit, domain maps
Scanning environmental scanning, content analysis, data mining, leading/lagging
indicators, stakeholder analysis, trend identification
Forecasting bellwether analysis, CLA, cross impact analysis, Delphi, emerging issue
analysis, gaming/simulation, historical analogy/pattern recognition, integral
futures, personas, predictive markets, scenarios (2x2, archetypes,
backcasting, incasting, morphological, etc), statistical modeling (time
series), systems analysis, technology forecasting (TRIZ, roadmapping,
patent analysis, etc.), trend analysis
Visioning appreciative inquiry, creative imagery, Futures Search, futures wheel,
implications analysis, visualization
Planning strategic planning, decision modeling, risk analysis, technology assessment
Acting action research, artifacts, change management, coaching, consulting,
issues management

11. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
The Benefits of Foresight
Activity Benefits
Framing (22%) 1. Thinking more diverse open, balanced and non-biased (9%)
2. Focusing on the right questions and problems more clearly (7%)
3. Being aware of, and influencing, assumptions and mental models (6%)
Scanning (16%) 4. Understanding the context, in all its complexity, through establishing
frameworks (5%)
5. Anticipating change and avoiding surprise (10%)
Forecasting (22%) 6. Producing more creative, broader, and deeper insights (16%)
7. Identifying a wider range of opportunities and options (5%)
Visioning (10%) 8. Prioritizing and making better and more robust decisions (10%)
Planning (7%) 9. Constructing pathways from the present to the future that enable
rehearsing for the future (7%)
Acting (23%) 10. Catalyzing action and change (7%)
11. Building alignment, commitment and confidence (14%)
12. Building a learning organization (2%)

12. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Some of our Graduates

13. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Why Foresight at UH?
• The longest-running foresight program in the world
• The program and courses are unique, challenging,
thought-provoking, cutting-edge and relevant.
• Professional preparation and applied emphasis.
• Can do it online or f2f as we blend them
• It is fun!

14. Houston FORESIGHT: Preparing Professional Futurists
Contact Info
ahines@uh.edu
+1.832.367.5575
www.houstonfutures.org
Andy Hines
Program Coordinator, Foresight