What is your vision?

Perhaps the most critical step in defining your institute is creating a vision.  At IF @ AACC we content that a vision needs at least x aspects. Let’s take these in turn.

A vision   -
”Is socially constructed.” This means that a group of persons who have a stake in the institute’s future are involved in creating it.  This enhances ownership of a shared view of the future.

”Acts as a magnet.”  Once constructed, a vision helps focus activity in the present.  It draws actors toward it and clarifies “just what we’re suppose to be doing” in the present. 

“Says what it is.”  A vision needs to be understandable and clear regarding direction and focus “down the road.”

”Is always a work in progress.”  Facilitation teams need to revisit the future often.  Visions are intentionally dynamic.  They must be constantly relevant to an emerging future.

You’ll need to create a vision. So here’s an example using IF@ AACC’s vision as constructed by the IF Advisory team”

The Institute for the Future at Anne Arundel Community College (IF@AACC) promotes a more humane tomorrow by encouraging dialogues about the future today. Using national and international resources, IF@AACC debates and applies futuristic visions to our community's problems and encourages the community to look to IF@AACC 's resources for fresh views on long-standing dilemmas. IF@AACC endeavors to “Think globally; act locally!”

What is your mission?

In light of your vision, what is your purpose?  This helps clarify in general statements of action what you really plan to do.  Those encountering and/or leading the institute will “always know what to do” if they know the mission.  Of course, a mission statement is a good thing to have! Here is an example, using the 2004 IF Advisory Team’s mission statement:

The purpose of the Institute for the Future @ AACC will 

• enhance learning and teaching by integrating future methodologies and futures perspectives into the strategies for learning throughout the college organizational culture. 
• provide an avenue for addressing the future through dissemination of knowledge, research, and consulting to area businesses, government, health care and other organizations. 
• provide growth and development opportunities for faculty and staff.

What do I do now that I have defined it?

With a definition in place, you can move toward “design.” Just how will it be structured? It’s time to Design it!
Go to Design it!