Backward planning starts with where you want to get to and then asks what needs to be done to create that environment from where you are now. It can be helpful in a number of ways in particular:

• it can help identify the key processes, structures or cultures that need to change
• it can help move people out of a mind-set where they are focussed more on what can't be done than what can be done

This is best done with a small group of people with an interest in the area under consideration.

Imagine the area of the institution/department etc on which you want to focus in say five years time and that it is working well. Then ask the following types of questions:

• how do we know it's working well?
• what will be its impact on other areas of the institution?
• what will staff say about it?

There are a range of activities which can help this process of 'visioning' the future such as:

• writing positive headlines or articles on the topic that are appearing in national, local or internal publications
• using internal performance indicators and saying what they will be in five years

The next stage in the process is to ask:

• What needs to happen to get us to the new scenario?

A brainstorming activity around this or group work can be helpful here with each group presenting its version on the route adopted.

The final stage is

• agreeing the steps along the way to creating the new vision of the future
• identifying the priority areas - which actions must be taken to enable this to happen in the real world, which should be taken and which might assist
• identify whose responsibility each would be and possible barriers and clarify how the process will be monitored