Design The FutureAI-Augmented Strategic Foresight

FAQs

• What documents are required at the time of registration?

  At the time of registration, applicants are required to submit the following documents for verification:

  1. 10th Standard Marksheet

  2. 12th Standard Marksheet

  3. Graduation Marksheet and Degree Certificate

  4. Work Experience Documents (Offer Letter + Last Drawn Payslip / HR Letter / Relieving Letter)

  Please ensure all documents are clear and legible to avoid delays in the registration process.

• Do I need a background in design to join?

  No. The course teaches "design thinking" as a strategic mindset. It is built for business leaders, engineers, and policymakers, not just creative professionals.

• Is this different from a data analytics course?

  Yes. Analytics looks at past data to optimise. Design Foresight looks at signals to create new possibilities. It deals with ambiguity where historical data is scarce.

• Will I need to write code to use the AI tools?

  Absolutely not. You will interact with AI through natural language prompting. The focus is on framing the right strategic questions, not programming.

• What hardware or software do I need?

  A standard laptop and stable internet are sufficient. We use cloud-based AI tools. Any specific tool subscriptions required will be communicated at the start.

• How are participants evaluated?

  Assessment is formative. You are evaluated on your weekly portfolio contributions and the quality of your final strategic presentation, rather than traditional exams.

• What happens if I miss a live session?

  Recordings of live sessions are available on the Learning Management System (LMS) for the duration of the course, allowing you to catch up at your own pace.

• Does this course grant IIT Bombay alumni status?

  No. This is a Continuing Education Programme (CEP) certificate course. It does not confer degree-level alumni status or privileges.

• Is there a specific focus on sustainability?

  Yes. Systemic design inherently involves ecological and social systems. You will learn to map the long-term environmental impact of your strategic decisions.

• How long will I have access to the course content?

  You will have access to the recordings and learning materials on the LMS for the duration of the course.

• What is the "Design for Future Lab"?

  It is a specialised research unit at IIT Bombay investigating how emerging tech shapes human behavior. You gain access to their latest frameworks and research outputs.

• Can I pay the fee in installments?

  Please check with the admissions counsellor regarding available financing partners or installment plans for the course fee.

• Will AI replace the need for foresight professionals?

  AI processes data, but it cannot judge value or ethics. This course trains you to provide the essential human judgment that directs AI's processing power.

• Is the "Futures Wheel" useful for non-tech sectors?

  Yes. It is a universal tool for mapping first, second, and third-order consequences of any change, whether in policy, healthcare, or retail.

• Do I need to buy a license for the AI tools?

  Most tools used have free tiers or trial versions. If a specific paid tool is recommended for advanced work, it will be optional or clearly specified.

• Can I claim this as a business expense?

  Many organizations reimburse this course as L&D or executive training. We can provide a tax invoice to your company upon request.

• Is there a networking component?

  Yes. The programme includes campus immersion at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay campus, where participants engage directly with faculty and peers. These immersion provide structured and informal networking opportunities, enabling meaningful interactions, peer learning, and long-term professional connections.

• What is the "Delphi-Lite" method used for?

  It is a technique to gather consensus from a panel of experts. You will learn to run this process efficiently to validate your strategic assumptions.

• How much reading is required?

  Expect some pre-readings or case briefs before modules. The focus, however, is on doing—applying frameworks to your project—rather than heavy academic reading.

• Will I learn prompt engineering?

  You will learn "strategic prompting"—how to structure queries to get high-level strategic insights and scenarios from LLMs, rather than just basic text generation.

• Can I sponsor my team for this course?

  Yes. Group enrollments are possible. Having multiple leaders from one organization can accelerate the adoption of foresight thinking in your company.

• What differentiates "Speculative Design" here?

  It moves beyond writing strategy documents. You will learn to create "artifacts"—tangible representations of the future—to make your strategy more persuasive.

• Is this course suitable for government officials?

  Yes. The frameworks (like Horizon Scanning and CLA) are standard tools used by governments globally for long-term policy formulation and risk governance.