Samir’s blog

Which type are you ?

First let me explain what I mean by Backward planner Vs. Forward Planner.

• Forward planner - Makes list of tasks and makes forward plan to complete all tasks starting from first one. Forward planner is aware of final deadline of project, but does not wait till dead-line to complete all tasks.
• Backward planner - First determines deadline of assignment. Makes list of tasks and starts planning backward from final deadline and determines schedule based on working upward from there considering task dependencies and there priorities.

One obvious derivative approach could be to use mixed approach. This may depend on situations and/or specific project. Of course, one can not use both approaches in same project/assignment.

Though forward planning may sound ideal, it may not be always practical in today’s stressful work or personal life, where number of tasks and projects never seem to reduce, but endlessly seem to increase. In a situation, where one is always juggling between tasks/project and it is constant battle to manage priorities of different tasks, forward planning just may not work.

In my work and business life, like many others, more often then less, I find myself juggling so many different tasks in a day, there is no scope for forward planning. Backward planning is the winner here. I simply can’t do without it I think that same would be case with many of us. Sounds familiar ?

However, forward planning may not be totally extinct yet. In any situation, where one has enough time and enough advance notice, forward planning will be just perfect. For example, let’s say you are planning a 2 week vacation after two months, forward planning may be perfect choice. You will have sufficient time to plan entire journey with good details. Most of it can be forward planning.

But if you are having a very busy schedule, ( now, that sounds familiar, isn’t it ? ), then your obvious choice will be backward planning. It actually reflects how important time management has become in era of information highway and now super highway. There is tons of information available at a click of a button, but time is NOT.

It is my thinking that we will have to adopt to new ways of time management. We will not have option. Like most of us, I am feeling this every day. Like in manufacturing world, so many companies have successfully adopted to “just-in-time” technique, we will have to find efficient way to manage information and more importantly,  manage “time” as socio-economic dynamics are clearly changing. Backward planning is just a beginning, that too, without a choice Guess what’s next ?

Are you ready?

Trackback URI | Comments RSS