ASSIST BL 2005

Welcome to the aSSIST 2005 page dedicated to our class on strategic ICT and e-Business. The class is divided into blocks which are listed below.

We shall be developing scenarios on the Future of the Korean Peninsula in 2015

Block 1 Introduction to Scenario Thinking

In this block the course participants are introduced to the historical background and theory of scenario thinking.  Different scenario methodologies are introduced.  A practical strategic dilemma (from a participant’s organisation) is chosen to form the focus of the group scenario process. An example scenario process is described.

Session 1: Scenario Thinking (24 May)

• Introduction
• Strategies for Dealing with Complexity
• Scenario Thinking:
• A creative process
  • A multidisciplinary process
  • An exploratory process
  • A process with results
  • An ongoing process
• Determining Driving Forces
• Scenario thinking in practice

Homework:

• Listing uncertainties and answering research questions relating to the Future of the Korean Peninsula in 2015

Block 2 The new electronic context

This block explores how the Internet is changing and looks ahead at networks in the next 5 years.

Session 2: The second wave of the Internet (26 May)

There is a second wave emerging of Internet business driven by broadband, bottom up web technologies, desktop video, 3G telephony and visualisation.

Block 3 Final scenarios and tie in to organizational strategy

This block explores the tie from scenarios to strategy.  Scenarios are a communication processes and work within an organisation the scenario stories must capture the imagination of the people in the organisation.  This block develops the scenarios from systems diagrams to stories, exploring what narrative structures and modes of representation work and fail. The different modes of developing strategy from scenarios and their successes and failures are critically evaluated.

Session 3: Case Investing in 3G Vodafone Future of M-Commerce Scenarios (31 May)

During 1999/2000 at the crest of the dotcom wave UMTS licences were sold in Europe to potential Third Generation mobile telephone operators. The DTN developed scenarios for Vodafone looking 5 years into the future of mobile commerce. The case of these practical scenarios are explored to develop forward looking ICT strategy. These scenarios are now made public to be discussed and are informed by:

• a multi-client set developed in 2002 Mobile Internet Scenarios in 2007, and
• A Telenor sponsored 1st glance scenarios developed in 2004 looking at the future of 3rd generation telephony

Session 4: From Scenarios to Strategy (2 June)

Theory: Lessons to Develop and ICT strategy from Scenarios

• Scenarios to strategy
• Scenario and strategy mapping the organisational context
• Scenario Process Comparisons
• Real options theory and the scenario approach
• Learning from Scenarios

Course Assessment

The students are expected to in a group develop a scenario set at the end of the course. This scenario set will address a practical strategic dilemma and use the theoretical material discussed during the course. In addition individuals are expected to keep a learning log of their learning no more than 1000 words through the course. A detailed outline of the deliverables will be discussed on the first day of class.

Grading the course is based on 3 components:

1. Groupwork (final scenarios) 50%
2. Individual work (object from the future, learning log, driving forces, strategic challenge) 35%
3. Class participation (virtual and physical) 15%