Impact Trust • Working glossary
Backcasting
Starting from a desired future state and working backwards to identify the steps needed to get there
Details
Our Take
Intuitive once explained. The opposite for forecasting (projecting current trends forward). Useful workshop tool that participants grasp quickly. The power is in forcing specificity about the desired end state before debating the route.
Examples of Use
Futures studies, sustainability planning, policy
Synonyms/Variants
Reverse planning; Future-back planning
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