What is Backcasting?
Backcasting is the opposite of forecasting. Students have to identify a desirable sustainable future for a client (company/organization) of their choice. Through backcasting, students identify policies and programs to reach this goal.
What is a Recommendations Report?
Recommendation reports are detailed documents providing recommendations for clients to take action that will achieve a specific vision, goal, and/or objectives. Substantial evidence should be provided to support each recommendation. Supporting evidence may include, quantitative research, qualitative research, real-time data collection, diagnosis of problem, trend analyses, and any other resource deemed credible and useful.
Components of a Backcasting and Recommendations Report
Title Page: Include the title, company/organization, student names, and date.
Backcast:Adescriptionofafeasibleanddesirablefuturethatisprojected10yearsfromthepresentmoment.Provide
a visual journey of this backcast.
Recommendations: Provide 5 practical and achievable recommendations to achieve your ideal future. Each
recommendation must contain the following elements:
- a succinct description.
- a rationale and explanation on how the recommendation will achieve your future.
- an explanation on how this recommendation can benefit other business units/departments.
- an action plan, with a timeline, precisely describing the steps need to execute the recommendations.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: An analysis and estimate of the cost-benefits to provide value for implementing each recommendation. Recommend any vendors who can help execute the recommendations. Include the costs of these vendors in your cost-benefit analyses. Provide a visual representation of cost-benefit analysis in a table or chart.
Conclusion: Provide a compelling and persuasive closing argument to convince your client to take action.