A
scenario (from the
Italian,
that which is pinned to the scenery) is a brief description of an event. In the
Commedia dell'arte it was an outline of entrances, exits, and action describing the plot of a play that was literally pinned to the back
of the scenery. It is also known as
canovaccio or "that which is pinned to the canvas" of which the scenery was constructed
A scenario is also an account or synopsis of a projected course of action, events or situations. Scenario
development is used in policy planning, organizational development and, generally, when organizations wish to test strategies
against uncertain future developments.
Scenarios are widely used by corporations to help understand different ways that future events could unfold. Scenario planning or scenario thinking is a complex business process related to Futures Studies. The term scenario is also used in a theatrical context to describe plot.
