Short answer
Backward planning anchors the final task to the deadline and places prerequisites before it. If capacity is insufficient, expose the conflict instead of deleting work.
What you need
- A fixed deadline
- Tasks and dependencies
- Daily capacity, weekends and excluded dates
Step by step
- Anchor the deadline and major milestones.
- Place tasks backward in dependency order.
- Review contingency time and visible capacity conflicts.
Common mistakes
- Leaving no buffer
- Ignoring weekend rules
- Hiding tasks when capacity is exceeded
Safety and verification
Verify legal, contractual or health-related deadlines with an authoritative source.