Strategic Intelligence Academy

Lesson Plans & Case Studies

Teach using our repository of lesson plans that provide blueprints for fostering systems thinking skills through the Strategic Intelligence Platform and other digital tools. These case studies showcase effective frameworks and best practices for integrating systems thinking methods and skills into learning environments.

This course is designed for international students in Global Business with English language proficiency levels ranging from B1 to C1. It aims to enhance global competitiveness by expanding vocabulary, developing fluency in the four core language skills, and incorporating systems thinking into students’ academic lives. By focusing on global marketing and technological innovations, the lesson plan equips learners with the ability to visualize complex interactions, identify connections, and propose effective solutions, seamlessly integrating systems thinking principles with global business strategies.Supporting Materials:ReportTestimonialsStudent WorkSystems Thinking Has Great Potential in Education - Agenda ArticleCurator and institution:  Enderun ExtensionTopic or Unit of Study: Systems Thinking, Global BusinessRelevant SI Feature: SI Premium feature “Create Map” Grade/Level: Tertiary EducationKey Skills Being Developed: Critical Analysis, Systems Thinking, Strategic Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Vocabulary and Conceptual UnderstandingTime Allotment: 5-day training, 1.5 hours each day, 7.5 contact hours in total; 5 asynchronous hours.
Education, Retail, Technology, IT and Communications (ICT)
Mapping Global Marketing Strategies in a Digitally Transformed World (Instructional Plan)
This lesson was a master’s level guest lecture for a cohort of students engaged in a circular economy course at Exeter Business School. The purpose of this workshop/ guest lecture is to introduce the circular economy strategic intelligence map, both its creation process and its content, to challenge students as potential circular entrepreneurs. Curator and institution: Rahmin Bender-Salazar, University of ExeterSupporting Materials:Exeter Circular Economy Presentation England Subject(s): Circular economy, systems thinking, design thinking, entrepreneurshipRelevant SI feature: Transformation maps: Circular EconomyLearner level: Master’s classTime allotment: 1-hour session
Education, Other, Just Transition, Nature & Natural capital
Unlocking Entrepreneurial Opportunities Through Systems and Design Thinking (Case Study)
Students have taken a media theory prerequisite class. As an introductory activity before this session, students were introduced to mapping and practised the skill by looking at the largest donors to political parties and highlighting their relationships with other parties, focusing on donors that allocated €1,000 and more over the year. After this activity, they were provided with technical instructions on using the World Economic Forum SI Platform’s advanced features, like the “Create Map” and “Monitor” toolsCurator and Institution: Lāsma Šķestere, Riga Stradiņš University, RigaLatvia Subject(s): New media and net societyRelevant SI feature: Transformation maps and SI Premium feature: “Create Map”Learner level: Postgraduate master’s classTime allotment: One session of 3 hoursAssessment: Summative reflection essay and presentation of finding
Education, Government, Technology, IT and Communications (ICT)
Exploring Latvian Political Parties Using Digital Tools (Case Study)
The National School of Government in South Africa is responsible for training government employees and offering regional training. While prioritizing the SDGs is essential, achieving them has proven to be challenging due to growing complexity and uncertainty. To achieve the SDGs, responsive policies and implementation capabilities were recognized as a need. Also, it was noted that institutions need access to high-quality information, knowledge and expertise to forecast the future, identify trends, benchmark good practice, make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Developing countries are more impacted by the SDGs and require resources, like the SI Platform, to understand and adopt policies to support the achievement of the SDGs. Therefore, SI was included in the training of government trainees through this new programme. Interns in government ministries in South Africa are not employed permanently but rather hired on a short-term basis to upskill and train to make them more employable on the open job market.Curator and Institution: Bongani Mayimele, Director for International Relations and Partnerships, National School of Government, Republic of South Africa; Bryonie Guthrie, Strategic Intelligence, World Economic Forum; Willem Fourie, Associate Professor, University of Pretoria; Simone Smit, Head of Exploration, United Nations Development Programme’s Accelerator Lab Subject(s): Public policy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Relevant SI feature: Strategic Intelligence Premium features: “Monitor”, “Create Map”, “Advanced Dynamic Briefing”; SDG transformation maps Learner level: Adult learners, government official trainees Time allotment: Five training days and a total of one month to develop pitchesAssessment: Summative assessment policy pitch
Education, Government, Civil society
SDG-Focused Public Policy Development (Case Study)
Dive into the complex political landscape of Puerto Rico with this engaging lesson plan. Students will explore the options of statehood, independence, or remaining a territory by analyzing political, economic, and social factors using the World Economic Forum's transformation map tool. Through research, map creation, and essay writing, students will develop critical thinking and research skills while gaining a deeper understanding of Puerto Rico's unique situation. Key learning objectives include comparing and contrasting different political statuses, developing a well-structured argument, and enhancing research and writing skills.Curator and institution: Wendy Youngblood, EdD, Shepaug Valley School, Connecticut, USASubject(s): African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies RelevantSI feature: Transformation maps and Strategic Intelligence Premium feature: “Create Map”Learner level: High school, grades 11-12 Time allotment: Two weeks, 1.5 hours/dayKey words: Advocacy Skills, African American Studies, American Studies, Argument Development, Argumentative Essay, Black Studies, Complex Problem Analysis, Critical Thinking, Educational Impact, Essay Assessment, Grades 11-12, High School Curriculum, Latin America, Modern World History, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Political Issues, Puerto Rico Economic Issues, Puerto Rico Social Issues, Puerto Rico Strategic Intelligence, Research and Analysis, Research Skills, Shepaug Valley School, Strategic Intelligence, Student Engagement, Summative Assessment, Week Lesson Plan, Understanding Global Issues, Unincorporated Territory, Wendy Youngblood EdD, Western Studies
Education, Government, Civil society
Unpacking Puerto Rico’s Political Status - Crafting an Argumentative Essay (Case Study)
The purpose of this UNITAR training module is to equip DDR practitioners, UN missions, and local communities with essential skills for CVR. In a recent session, UNITAR specifically focused on using systems thinking methodologies to support practitioners in mapping the complexities of the international CVR landscape and assessing effective intervention strategies. Through a systems thinking framework, participants learned to identify and evaluate leverage points within CVR, applying these concepts to develop targeted intervention strategies.Supporting Materials:Intervention Strategy HandoutCommunity Violence Reduction pdfCurator and institution: Tissione Parmar, UNITARSubject(s): Peace and Security, SDG 16Topic or Unit of Study: Community Violence Reduction (CVR)Relevant SI Feature: Transformation Map: Create Map Tool to be used for the Mapping Section of the lesson/trainingGrade/Level: DDR Practitioners, UN missions, local communitiesKey Skills Being Developed: Strategy thinking, critical thinking, complexity analysis, systems mappingTime Allotment: 3 hours
Education, Government, Civil society, Other
Leveraging Systems Thinking for Community Violence Reduction (Instructional Plan)
This lesson showcases how learners can apply their knowledge of international market features through a PESTLE analysis and conducted a benchmarking analysis to enable students to assess the feasibility of exporting a product to a given international market.Curator and institution: Alberto Gamez, Universidad Panamericana, Campus GDL, MexicoSupporting Materials:PESTLE Analysis Worksheet Template (Spanish)PESTLE Analyis Instructions (Spanish)PESTLE Analysis Student Example (Spanish)Subject(s): International market intelligenceRelevant SI feature: Country transformation mapsLearner level: Undergraduate programme in international businessTime allotment: Two sessions of 1.5 hours
Education, Supply Chain & Transportation
PESTLE Analysis and Market Intelligence (Case Study)
In this lesson, learners will be able to understand and analyse concept scenarios and systemic driving forces and recommend innovative solutions in a summative project presentation.Curator and Institution: Moataz Darwish, Professor of Practice, School of Business, The American University in Cairo, EgyptSubject(s): Corporate entrepreneurship, corporate innovation and scenario planning Relevant SI feature: Transformation maps and dynamic knowledge feedLearner level: Undergraduate studentsTime allotment: Four 1-hour sessions
Education, Other, Just Transition
Business and Corporate Entrepreneurship (Case Study)
In this lesson, learners will be able to use inquiry-based learning, act and reflect on their exploratory experience to identify and predict the essential career-ready skills that will be relevant to their future careers. Curator and institution: Jason Reagin, Chadwick International School (IB schools)Subject(s): Career planning, future career-ready skillsRelevant SI feature: Four transformation maps: Digital Identity, Fourth Industrial Revolution, Future of Work, and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.Learner level: Second-level career programme studentsTime allotment: 4-6 hours
Education, Civil society
How to Develop a Future-Proof Career (Case Study)
In this lesson, learners will be able to demonstrate what horizon scanning means and use the digital tools and platforms available to build a skill set and toolbox in strategic foresight, allowing them to improve the competitive positioning of organizations and use these as inputs to identify new growth opportunities, promote strategic agility and design innovation strategies and projects.Curator and Institution: Paulo Carvalho, ISEG, Lisbon School of Economics and Management, University of Lisbon, Portugal; Olivier Woeffray, World Economic Forum Subject(s): Business, strategy, innovation Relevant SI feature: “Discover” (briefing on topic for the client case mobilized for the module, i.e. future of tourism) and SI Premium feature “Create Map” (creation of your custom map based on priorities of the user) Learner level: Executive training and MBA level Time allotment: 2-hour session
Education, Other
Management, Futures, Strategic Design and Innovation (Case Study)

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