Working Backwards
Working backwards is a problem-solving heuristic where an individual starts with the desired final outcome and works in reverse to determine the necessary steps to achieve it. This method is frequently applied in everyday planning, often without conscious thought.
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Behavioral Economics
Psychology
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Representative heuristic
Stereotype
Self-Based Heuristic (SBH)
Affect Heuristic
Fast and Frugal Cognitive Heuristics
Bandwagon Heuristic
Endorsement Heuristic
Working Backwards
Availability Heuristic
Substituting Questions (Heuristic Questions)
Anchoring
Task Decomposition Heuristic
After watching extensive news coverage of a rare but dramatic lottery win in their city, a person starts spending a significant portion of their income on lottery tickets. Despite statistical evidence showing the odds are astronomically low, the vivid, recent example of a winner makes the possibility feel much more likely. Which mental shortcut best explains this person's change in behavior?
A chef is trying to create a new signature pasta dish for their restaurant. Faced with hundreds of possible ingredient combinations, they decide to start by using only high-quality, locally sourced ingredients that are currently in season, believing this approach will most likely result in a popular and delicious dish. Which of the following best describes the chef's problem-solving approach?
Evaluating a Problem-Solving Shortcut
Algorithm vs. Heuristic
Working Backwards
Learn After
Example of the Working Backwards Heuristic
A software development team is tasked with launching a new mobile application in six months. To create their project plan, they decide to use a problem-solving method that starts with the final goal and works in reverse to identify the necessary preceding steps. Using this method, what would be the team's very first planning action?