An environmental scanning system is structured to identify and evaluate trends, events, and emerging issues. QUEST represents the quick environmental scanning technique, and an ED QUEST process enables an educational organization to clarify its future and define its options. This paper describes how an educational organization can establish an ongoing environmental scanning program to inform an established ED QUEST team. The system requires that a variety of information sources be regularly scanned, abstracted, and evaluated in order to identify emerging issues, trends, and events. Developmental steps include: (1) devising a program structure and a comprehensive taxonomy; (2) identifying and assigning information sources; and (3) finding and training scanners and abstractors. Once established, this technique becomes a systematic, intensive, and relatively inexpensive method of focusing on strategic areas for which more detailed planning and analysis might be beneficial. (JHP)