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Engaging in an organized environmental scan is a key element of the overall program development process. The scan process allows an opportunity to gather key information on the local environment and build a shared understanding of ongoing activities, past accomplishments, and potential opportunities. By its nature, a scan is outward-focused; it looks at the larger institutional setting, outside of the library.

Example of an environemtal scan process published by the Association of Research Libraries who were renewing their strategic plan. "The plan that will result from this effort will guide the Association in setting priorities and organizing its activities for the next several years, a time that is expected to present unprecedented challenges and concomitant opportunities to research libraries. To support the work of the Strategic Planning Task Force, ARL senior staff have initiated an environmental scanning exercise to identify trends that are likely to affect research libraries and the work of the Association. The report considers not only challenges, but also opportunities.

This document describes a preferred framework and approach for the practice of ES at RMIT University. ES activity, as a minimum, is related to the strategic planning process but it is not confined to this. ES should be viewed as an ongoing, rather than episodal, activity which enables an organisation/school/group to detect changes in its internal and external environments and respond appropriately in the short, medium and long terms.