Solutioning & Roadmapping
Step 4: How Do We Get There?
Once we know where we are, what is around us, and where we want to go, we can start plotting a route. We establish the obstacles in our way and the pathways most likely to reach our goal in the set time frame.
Just as with plotting a trip route, the time available defines not only what routes we can take, but also what "transportation" we will use. We plot routes in time rather than on a geographical map, but the essence is the same: alternative routes, scenic detours if time allows, a clear destination, and points of interest along the way.
Finding Solutions
If solutions did not emerge naturally during Step 3, several tools can help identify leverage points and gaps within or between systems:
Network parameter analysis: Systematically evaluate each network parameter (CRAFTDCCV, SSCNE, PEAIE) to find where the system is weakest and where small changes could have large effects.
ELSI spectrum scan: Check each ELSI category for opportunities that may have been overlooked -- especially in categories that received less attention during mapping.
Biomimicry and design thinking: Use nature-inspired strategies and human-centered design methods to generate creative solutions.
Backcasting: Start from the desired end state and work backward to identify the steps needed to get there.
Building Roadmaps
A roadmap plots all actions along a timeline, showing the long-term goal and intended impacts. When building a roadmap:
Identify action types. Classify each intervention as Change, Start, Stop, or Replace. Each requires different management approaches.
Sequence for synergy. Order interventions so that earlier actions support later ones, creating positive cascading effects.
Set milestones. Define intermediate checkpoints that allow for evaluation and course correction.
Prevent lock-in. Ensure each step supports both its immediate milestone and the long-term goal. If a solution leads to lock-in further down the road, it becomes obvious in the pathway.
Overstate ambition. Complex systems create drag. Aim higher than your target to account for rebound effects and historical momentum.
From Single Solutions to Systemic Change
Sometimes a route is a single solution; sometimes it is a string of different solutions executed in time. The most powerful roadmaps combine multiple intervention types across different system levels, creating a symphony of change where each instrument supports the others.