envisioning

Envisioning is the process of forming a mental image or projection of a future state or outcome, often as part of planning, design, or strategy. It combines imagination with analysis to explore possibilities.

Etymology: From envision, from en- “to cause to have” and vision “sight”; in English, envisioning is common in American usage, and visioning is a related term used in organizational contexts.

Methods and practice: In practice, envisioning begins by clarifying purpose and values, then generating diverse futures, describing a preferred future in concrete terms, and outlining steps to realize it. Tools include scenario planning, backcasting, storytelling, and visualization. It relies on cognitive processes such as mental imagery and prospective thinking, and benefits from stakeholder input.

Applications: Used in business strategy, product design, urban and regional planning, education and leadership development, as well as personal goal setting. It helps align actions with long-term goals and fosters creativity and motivation, while retaining a realistic appraisal of constraints.

Considerations and critique: Envisioning carries risks of bias and over-optimism if not grounded. Effective envisioning balances desiderata with data, iterates with feedback, and aims for shared buy-in. The terms “envisioning” and “visioning” are often used interchangeably, with some nuance about internal imagery versus collective futures.