FORESIGHT & INSIGHT

Canadian Forces College: Training for Capacity Building

Client

Canadian Forces College (Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence)

Scope of Work

Program development
Delivery of content: lectures, exercises, workshops, discussions
Program assessment

Canadian Forces College CFC is a military staff college for senior and general officers of the Canadian Armed Forces. It provides graduate-level military education courses designed to develop leadership abilities within the Canadian Forces in a whole-of-government framework.

CFC prepares officers in the Canadian military with skills to withstand the volatile circumstances and rapidly changing roles they face both in Canada and on missions around the world. Many students from other allied countries are also in attendance. KerrSmith was brought in to introduce principles of Foresight and Design Thinking and build capacity for students. The program is for generals, colonels and majors who are dealing with increased uncertainly related to climate events, disruptions in society, heightened geo-political tensions, and technological innovations and risks.

Although some level of scenario planning is currently used in military preparations, external experts typically provide foundational work with internal partners in a more reactive role, leading to a siloed approach for strategic activities. To encourage integration of futures and design thinking into broader application throughout the forces, and to encourage collaborative integration with experts, we developed this pilot program. Using human-centered methodologies, delivered through lectures and active applied learning exercises, we developed a customized curriculum tailored to the needs of military learners. Helen Kerr continues to teach at CFC, and Nigel Smith facilitates workshops. The highly successful program continues.

Colonels report out on their group work activities.

Workshop participants share their horizon scanning findings.

Workshop groups come together to share what they’ve learned.

Workshop groups shares the results of their scenarios work.

Future of Mass Affluence

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