TOOL
To The Future & Back Planning
A strategic planning tool that helps you anticipate, adapt, and navigate in a rapidly changing market.
Tool purpose
Just like Queen’s Gambit in chess, the future-back approach sets you up for the future.
The tool focuses on developing a strategy by envisioning a desired future state and then working backward to identify the steps needed to achieve that vision. Its purpose is to foster innovation, anticipate disruptions, and create a long-term, proactive plan rather than simply reacting to current trends.
When to use it
The approach is best used for:
Long-term innovation planning - When you want to explore new opportunities beyond current market trends.
Navigating uncertainty - When your industry is facing disruption or rapid technological change.
Transformational shifts - When your team or organization is considering significant changes in business models, products, or markets.
Area
Strategy, innovation, leadership, and transformation
Time
20-60 min
Participants
Solo or a core team of up to 5 people. Remember to involve all stakeholders you believe can contribute but keep the core small and agile.
Capabilities
Strategic thinking
Stakeholder management
Research
Systems or Service Design
Method
Step 1 - Define the Long-term Vision
Identify the desired future state of the organization. What does success look like in 10–15 years? Be bold and ambitious, focusing on new possibilities, market shifts, and innovations.
Use scenario planning to explore different versions of the future based on trends, technology, and societal shifts.
Research external forces such as technological advancements, regulatory changes, market dynamics, and consumer behaviors that could impact your future vision.
Create a list of possible disruptions or opportunities that could shape the industry in the long term.
Step 2 - Work Backwards from the Vision
Start from the long-term vision and trace back the key milestones that need to be achieved to get there.
Ask, “What needs to be true at each step for this vision to become reality?” Identify strategic moves that must be made in the medium-term (5–7 years) and the near-term (1–3 years).
Step 3 - Identify Gaps and Capabilities
Compare your current position with the future vision. Identify gaps in capabilities, technology, culture, and resources.
Determine what needs to change or be developed to bridge these gaps.
Step 4 - Set Strategic Priorities & Develop Actionable roadmaps
Based on the gaps and key milestones, prioritize initiatives that need to happen now. Align these short-term actions with the long-term vision.
Ensure these priorities are clear and actionable, with measurable goals.
Create detailed roadmaps for each priority area, with timelines, responsibilities, and required resources.
Include flexibility in the plan to adjust for unforeseen changes or disruptions.
Step 5 - Engage and Align Stakeholders
Communicate the future vision and the plan to all levels of the organization. Ensure buy-in from key stakeholders, as they will be responsible for executing different parts of the strategy.
Foster a culture that supports long-term thinking and innovation.
Step 6 - Monitor Progress and Incorporate Learnings to Adapt
Regularly review progress toward milestones and be prepared to adapt strategies as the external environment changes.
Use key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with the long-term vision to track progress and pivot when necessary.
As you progress, continuously learn from successes and failures, adjusting the strategy when necessary.
Encourage feedback from across the organization to refine the vision and keep the strategy on track.
Step 7 - Reassess the Vision Periodically
While the long-term vision should provide direction, it should not be rigid. Reassess it periodically based on new information, trends, or shifts in the market.