IPA IP 2024 Question 3
A question IPA Japan published in 令和6年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問3, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Which of the following is the most appropriate term that represents a method of setting a goal at a certain point in the future, looking back on the present with that point as the starting point, and considering what should be done now in order to achieve the goal?
Explanation
Backcasting — fix the goal at a point in the future first, then work backward from it to what must be done now.
Backcasting starts from a desired future state, such as zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and looks back from there to the present to find the milestones in between and the actions that must start today. It suits goals that extending today's trends would not reach. Forecasting runs the other way: it starts from present data and trends and projects them forward.
Answer (c)
Why not others:
- •(a) PoC — verifying, on a small scale before development, whether a new concept or idea is feasible in practice
- •(b) PoV — verifying whether a new concept or idea delivers the value or business effect expected of it, usually after a PoC
- •(d) Forecasting — predicting the future by extending the present situation and past trends forward, the opposite direction
Key rule: Backcasting goes from a future goal back to present actions; forecasting goes from the present forward. PoC checks feasibility, PoV checks value.
Technological Strategy Management · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.