ASSIGNMENT 5 – Futuring in the Life Sciences (100
points/12%)
Addresses Course Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4:
? Interpret and critically analyze primary scientific
literature to assess the validity and reliability of
scientific results and evaluate the conclusions drawn from
these data
? Demonstrate proficiency in scientific principles,
techniques and applications in the life sciences
to evaluate experimental design and determine compliance
with standards of protocol and ethical
practice
? Effectively communicate scientific principles, concepts,
methods, and research findings based on
critical analysis of primary literature, industry reports,
and other life sciences resources
? Pose vital and relevant scientific questions to identify
problems, challenges, and opportunities for
the development of innovative products and services in the
life sciences
All industries in the Life Sciences must anticipate the
future. Imagine a vaccine industry or an
agricultural industry that does not anticipate the future.
Many more people would die from
seasonal illnesses and produce shortages would occur. An
important way to determine life science
fields you might target for your career is to apply the
techniques of “Futuring”. Futuring is
essentially an approach to strategically anticipate the
future.
Whether you are motivated by discovery research, finding
cures, biotechnology, medicine, or some
other aspect of the life sciences, you will want to explore
them to assure that your ideas and plans
have a place now and in the future. In this assignment, you
are expected to be a visionary. You
will apply two Futuring techniques to the opportunity you
chose in last week’s SWOT
analysis. This will help you develop your skills as a
visionary. Some examples of futuring
techniques include the following:
Scanning — Survey newspapers, magazines, web sites, other
media
Trend Analysis — Identify a trend and characterize/describe
it including its cause, speed of
development, and potential impacts.
Trend Monitoring — Identify a trend and provide evidence
that it is being monitored and reported
on by key decision makers. Discuss which industries or who
is being (or will be) impacted by this
trend.
Trend Projection — Use data to provide evidence of an
identified trend. Describe the causes of
the trend and the changes that will occur over time. Discuss
predictions about the future impact of
this trend.
Polling — Ask experts for their opinion about the future.
What are the key trends in their area of
expertise? What information do they use to make better
decisions about possibilities of the future?
Hold in-person or phone interviews. Thoughtfully prepare
interview questions (include in this
assignment).
THE ASSIGNMENT
Please address each of the following items. Label each
section of your paper according to the labels
A-C below.
A. Choose and Describe of Two Areas of Futuring. (10 points)
1. Use following resource on Futuring to help you choose 2
specific futuring techniques:
https://books.google.com/books?id=phGB2Hc3XZ8C&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=business+futuring+
by+polling&source=bl&ots=wDfs1e5eJl&sig=DOJb9apuz9gKkPvnkLECq1Fql_4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0a
hUKEwiHk6adsKPMAhUERSYKHYGUDtIQ6AEIKjAC#v=onepage&q=business%20futuring%20by%20p
olling&f=true
2. Briefly describe the two areas of Futuring that you
chose.
B. Application of Two Futuring Techniques to SWOT Analysis
Opportunity: (55 points)
1. Present the results from each application of your two
chosen futuring techniques
to the opportunity
you identified in your SWOT analysis. Be sure to focus on trends
and changes that
occur through time rather than on episodic or single events. (40)
2. Based on the results of your futuring techniques, explain
in detail whether or not
you think your chosen
opportunity is a worthy investment of time and resources. (15)
C. References (15 points)
1. Include in-text references where appropriate (5)
2. Cite all references (5)
3. Use APA-style references (5)
NB: If no references are cited, you will receive a grade of
zero (0) for this assignment
D. Grammar (10 points)
Spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence
construction, and paragraph construction will be
considered in the grading of this assignment.
E. Paper format (10 points)
1. Title page: Name, Course Name and Number, Instructor
Name, Paper Title, Due Date
2. Sections of paper properly labelled
3. Type double-spaced, 11-point, Times New Roman font paper
with 1-inch margins
4. 3-4 pages (not including title page and reference page)
Please submit your paper as a Word document to your
assignment folder.
GRADING RUBRIC
How completely and thoroughly questions are addressed – (65
points)
References – (15 points)
Grammar – (10 points)
Format – (10 points)
