Working backwards
For problems where you need to create a timeline, meet a deadline, or understand the steps needed to complete a task, working backwards can be a great problem-solving process. To do this, imagine that the task has already been completed or the problem has already been solved with a satisfactory outcome, and work backwards to see what steps were taken to reach that result and when those steps needed to be completed by. Check out the example below to see how this technique works.
The working backwards technique in action
Ruth works in the admin department at a hospital and has just been given an important project to work on. They’ve recently started using a new computer system for the storage of medical files at the hospital, and Ruth needs to develop a training course to teach employees how to use the new system.
To help her plan what steps she needs to take to complete the project, Ruth decides to use the working backwards technique. First, she imagines the course in its completed form. She thinks about what information staff members need to learn and how it would need to function for it to be an effective training tool.
Now, Ruth works backwards to think about the steps that need to be taken to get the course to the completed form that she’s imagined. She also assigns a due date to each of these tasks to help keep the project on track. She does this by taking the deadline she has been given by her boss and working backwards. Here’s the plan she comes up with:
Ruth has worked backwards to figure out how much time she can spend on each step. She now has a clear plan of the steps she will take to complete the project, which she can use to measure her progress along the way. Without a plan like this, Ruth might spend too much time on one step, and not be able to complete another important task, like testing the course for bugs, before handing over the finished product.
Here’s another example of how the working backwards technique can be used:
Reflect
- Do you like to plan things out ahead of time? Why? Why not?
- Have you ever used the working backwards technique to solve a problem or plan something in your personal life? How did it go?
- For example, working out a budget to save for something or planning a social event.
Think about your particular discipline or area of professional interest — what kind of problems or tasks arise in your area that the working backwards approach could help solve?
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- For example, in the area of business sustainability, the problem could be product packaging that is damaging to the environment. A Sustainability Manager who is tasked with reducing the impact of a company’s product packaging would first envision the end goal of packaging with minimal environmental impact, then they’d use the working backwards strategy to develop a plan with all the steps in between. These steps could be things like designing a sustainable packaging strategy, sourcing eco-friendly materials, and implementing changes in the manufacturing line.
