by Eric Britten
Keeping up to date on the various planning tools, methods and techniques seems like a slalom down the alphabet slopes sometimes. But, knowing about the tools, when to use them and how to combine them is critical to delivering what clients need and expect.
WBFP (Working Backwards From Perfect) is one of the tools employed when using the Hoshin (or hoshin kanri) approach to strategic planning. WBFP is a very useful technique in which the ultimate goal or future state (perfect) is visioned; then the gap between current state and future state is closed with as few steps as possible. This is a tool that is used when incremental change just isn't going to deliver the bacon and transformational change is what is needed.
RBA (Results Based Accountability) is a planning technique used often in the public and not-for-profit sectors. This approach focuses on determining what the desired outcomes are for an agency, program or organization and then agreeing on what resources need to be integrated to deliver the improved state. Very often this results in several agencies or groups working together toward improving the outcomes as rarely is there a single cause to a social issue.
A.I. (Appreciative Inquiry) takes a different approach to developing strategy for an organization. Rather than focusing the organization on what is not working, A.I. first looks at what is working. These elements constitute the positive core that give the organization its vitality, success and effectiveness. Focusing on what works builds energy and inspiration for then looking at visioning and planning.
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