"Exercise: Scenario Planning" by Paul Miesing and Raymond K. Van Ness

Organization Management Journal

Article Title

Authors

Paul Miesing, The University of Albany, State University of New York
Raymond K. Van Ness, The University of Albany, State University of New York

Abstract

Corporations operate in political, economic, and technological environments that can change rapidly. Competitive advantage can be the reward for those that anticipate, plan, and prepare for change. This exercise demonstrates the essence and value of scenario planning and enables students to experience the process of planning in volatile environments. Teams are formed, an organization is selected, and a list of strategy questions is prepared and narrowed to each team’s overriding “Big Question.” Students brainstorm a range of critical events in the competitive and general environments. Surprise is injected into the exercise by random assignment of trajectories to critical events that combine to serve as the basis for structuring a scenario. Students summarize their scenarios and prepare a strategy to capitalize on the opportunity or minimize the threat. Class presentations and discussions follow.

Recommended Citation

Miesing, Paul and Van Ness, Raymond K. (2007) "Exercise: Scenario Planning," Organization Management Journal: Vol. 4: Iss. 2, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/omj/vol4/iss2/6

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