Sohail Inayatullah

Augmented reality, the Murabbi and the democratization of higher education: alternative futures of higher education in Malaysia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the scenarios, visions and strategies that resulted from a five-day foresight workshop for AKEPT (Higher Education Leadership Academy), the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – An anticipatory action-learning course/workshop with over 50 lecturers and deans framed by the “six pillars” futures approach. Methods given the most attention were: the futures triangle; causal layered analysis; and scenario planning. Lecturers deliberated for the first three days, and deans for the last two. After their debates, the lecturers and deans presented their findings and recommendations to each other, and to the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. As well, they considered how they as individual scholars can also pursue specific actionable steps towards their preferred futures visions. Findings – The recommendations by lecturers and deans can be systematized in the following categories: establishment of a pilot project; enhancement of ...

Alternative scenarios for BRAC University

This article was published in the On the Horizon [© Emerald Group Publishing Limited.] and the definite version is available at : http://doi.org/10.1108/OTH-01-2013-0006. The Journals website is at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/OTH-01-2013-0006

From organizational to institutional change

Purpose – To provide a futures‐oriented perspective on institutional change.Design/methodology/approach – Presents methods and case studies of attempts to engage in institutional change. An international authority on future studies draws on his field to provide a futures‐oriented perspective on institutional change. This perspective includes the use of futures tools, strategy, capacity building, the central role of memes, emergence of self‐organization, and the underlying role of meaning and symbols. Five case studies are used to illustrate these principles.Findings – One company was struggling over its governing choice of institutional metaphor: the tortoise versus the hare. Another was caught up in treating hackers as good versus evil, but realized that they needed new concepts to grasp the frontier of cyberspace. A third case involved moving from developing a monolithic plan to forming self‐organizing groups of stakeholders that actually created a collective new vision. A city council was able to recog...

Smart cars and smart insurance: analysing the trends

In this article, written as part of a consulting report for the insurance industry, key trends that are likely to impact the motor insurance industry are presented. These trends include: globalization; the rise of the cultural creatives; customization; the rise of the info‐tailor; and ageing. From these trends sketches of three scenarios are presented. These are the great divide; smart cars and smart insurance; and from cars for all to mobility for all.

Power and the Futures of the Internet

Using an article written over 15 years ago on exclusion and inclusion in the information era as backdrop, the authors explore power and the futures of the Internet. Four scenarios are offered. First is the Leap-frog or Bypass. In this future, the poorer nations of today, by being less invested in today’s technology, jump over the wealthier nations. They lead in creating novel Internet futures. In the second scenario, Cycles of Violence and Surveillance, the main driver is perceived injustice and the ability to use violence and spectacle to challenge this injustice. Whether through the Internet or the emerging 3D printing technologies or drones, the weak are able to inflict violence on the strong. Third is the Gaia of Civilizations, where the growth of the Internet—speech, access, dispersion—is built upon the fabric of ethical civilization rules. The main driver for this idealistic scenario is the development of a new demographic group—the Cultural Creatives. Last, the Great Disruption, the exact development of the Internet cannot really be predicted in the sense that disruption is built into the net. The main driver in this scenario is technology itself. In this future, we are not at the end of the Internet revolution but merely at its beginning. The future of the Internet is thus multiple. Indeed, most likely all aspects of these scenarios will occur, as well as futures beyond our current imagination.

Ensuring Culture Does Not Eat Strategy for Breakfast What Works in Futures Studies

For foresight to be useful to organizations, it must have seven dimensions. The first is that the journey is learning focused and not about particular forecasts or strategic targets. The journey is continuous, adaptive, and narrative-based. Second, for organizations to transform, they must challenge their used future: practices they continue that do not match their desired vision. Third, as the rate of technological change is dramatic, often exponential, it is necessary for organizations to search for emerging issues—novel disruptors that can challenge standard operating procedures. Fourth, they need alternative futures or scenarios, as they best capture uncertainty and allow for novel possibilities. The fifth is inclusion, or the question of “who is not in the room?” Sixth, for a new future to successfully emerge, it must have a supportive worldview and underlying narrative or metaphor. And, seventh, they need a vision, neither too far nor too near, one that enables and ennobles.

Which future for libraries

Purpose – Innovation in information and communication technologies, combined with change in social and cultural attitudes, is raising questions about the future for libraries and librarians. This article seeks to examine alternative futures that were developed at a workshop organized by Brisbane City Council in June 2006.Design/methodology/approach – Through the discussion of provocative discussion points, four possible futures emerged – “the lean, information machine”, “co‐location for community capacity building”, “knowledge navigator”, and “dinosaurs of the digital knowledge era”.Findings – The library is undergoing a foundational shift in services, design and purpose. To survive and thrive in the future libraries will have to adapt to these changing conditions.Originality/value – The article identifies some key strategic questions for libraries, particularly those provided by municipal authorities. These strategic questions remain unanswered but this article contributes to the debate.

Futures at Tamkang University

To understand Tamkang University’s futures program, one must understand the centrality of Clement Chang, the founder. While most futures programs appear to be under the threat of budget cuts, Tamkang remains in a growth mode. This is partly because the Founding president of the University is a futurist and the patron of the futures program at Tamkang.

Challenging the Feudal Mind: Alternative Futures for the University

Discusses whether, in ten years, campus‐based, nation‐funded, local student oriented universities will exist, and introduces the notion of huge multinational players into the educational market.