toekomstigestaat

Toekomstigestaat is a Dutch term used to describe the intended future condition of a system, organization, or project. The word combines toekomstig, meaning future, and staat, meaning state or condition. It is commonly employed in planning, governance, and enterprise architecture to refer to the desired end-state after a transformation.

Definition and scope: The toekomstigestaat defines target capabilities, structures, services, processes, and performance levels that an organization seeks to realize within a defined horizon. It contrasts with the current or as-is state and is used as the basis for roadmaps and investment decisions.

Application and methods: It is developed through stakeholder engagement, scenario planning, and capability mapping, often accompanied by indicators, milestones, and governance arrangements. It informs roadmaps, portfolio management, and change management, providing a clear picture of what success looks like in the future.

Examples: A city aiming for a carbon-neutral energy system by 2035 would have a future-state description including district heating, renewables share, digital service platforms, and resilience metrics. A company pursuing digital transformation might specify future-state attributes such as cloud-native architecture, unified data models, and customer-centric processes.

Limitations and context: The toekomstigestaat is a planning tool, not a guarantee. External factors may alter outcomes, and the future-state must be revisited periodically to reflect changes in strategy, technology, or environment.

See also: as-is state, future state, roadmapping, gap analysis, enterprise architecture.