Saturday, November 4, 2017

Planning Theories and Approaches


1.    COMPREHENSIVE-RATIONALE APPROACH

Features
       Uses Reason more intensively -- ‘rational’ or scientific tools
       Has roots in Geddes ‘Survey-Analysis-Plan’ (SAP)-- theoretically benefits the whole of society and the larger natural environment
       Planner an Expert-Scientist, Technical Specialist, Forecaster who is making a prognosis, educating the public on future scenarios
Limitations
          ‘synoptic’ planning is criticized for its a-priori goal setting – that experts and people already know “the common good” before undertaking planning, it presumes a general public interest rather than pluralist interest; with the high importance given to role of Experts, it also has tendency to centralize or control

          “utopian”, “normative”, “technocratic”


2.    SYSTEMS APPROACH (Norbert Wiener)

       System is a set or group of interconnected components interacting to form a unity or integrated whole
       Relationships tie the system together
       Cyclical System – free-flowing circuit

5 Main Advantages of Systems Approach in management
1. It concentrates on end results rather than the means.
2. It provides an orderly and efficient plan of action.
3. It develops coordination of the specialized activities.
4. It provides a good basis of control
5. It frees management from many daily details of operations management.

Disadvantages
1.    The approach does not recognize the differences in systems.
2.    Over-conceptual
3.    Systems philosophy does not specify the nature of interactions and interdependencies.
4.    Unpractical: It cannot be easily and directly applied to practical problems.
5.    Lack of Universality
6.    Complex System

3. ADVOCACY PLANNING
Notable Personalities
       Paul Davidoff, pluralistic view of politics and governance
       Saul David Alinsky, Rules for Radicals
       Sherry Arnstein, Eight Rungs in the Ladder of Citizen Participation

Features
       Planners should advocate for those who are powerless and disenfranchised
       Planners should work for the redistribution of power and resources to the powerless and the disadvantaged
       Defend the interests of weak and the poor against the established powers of business and government

Disadvantages
·         Advocacy planning defies the existence of the concept of value neutrality and hence the preparation of plural plans with each plan guided by the ideologies of the people preparing it. Values are an inescapable part of rational decision making process. https://planningtank.com/planning-theory/advocacy-planning-concept
·         Can lack clear objectives, or be difficult to agree common objectives.
·         Forming and managing a coalition can be a very time-consuming and bureaucratic process that can take away time from working directly on campaign issues and organizational tasks.
·         May be dominated by one powerful organization. Power is not always distributed equally among members; larger or richer organizations can have more say in decisions.
·         May require you to compromise your position on issues or tactics.
·         Shared decision-making can be slow and may paralyze progress.
·         Can often be constrained by a lack of resources.
·         Potential for donor interference (e.g. a donor is interested in funding certain activities but there is a danger of planning activities only because you know you can get the funds).
·         You may not always get credit for your work. Sometimes the coalition as a whole gets recognition rather than individual members. Or certain members get or claim more recognition than others, causing conflict and resentment.
·         If the coalition process breaks down it can harm everyone's advocacy by damaging members' credibility.
·         Coalition activities can be difficult to monitor and evaluate.
http://worldanimal.net/our-programs/strategic-advocacy-course-new/module-4/networking-and alliances/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-working-in-coalitions

4. APOLITICAL POLITICS
Apathy or antipathy against all political affliations

5. CRITICAL PLANNING THEORY
Examine the relationship between urban planning and the changing balance of social forces, power relations, socio-spatial inequalities and political-institutional arrangements that shape and are in turn shaped by the evolution of neo-liberal urbanization; must reveal and question the ways in which planning contributes to the lubrication of the processes of taking unfairness for granted.; deemed effective to the extent that it keeps alive the hope that society can be changed by planned collective action to make it fairer and more compassionate despite the strong structures that favor the interests of the already well-off.
https://books.google.com.ph/books?hl=en&lr=&id=lqEDQlUgWZEC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=critical+planning+theory&ots=FUtXXpXzyV&sig=-3eWiuMF_qC1Ef4gnxpw-Fy1tnk&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=critical%20planning%20theory&f=false

6.    BUREAUCRATIC PLANNING
Weber's theory of bureaucratic management also has two essential elements. First, it entails structuring an organization into a hierarchy. Secondly, the organization and its members are governed by clearly defined rational-legal decision-making rules. Each element helps an organization to achieve its goals.
An organizational hierarchy is the arrangement of the organization by level of authority in reference to the levels above and below it. For example, a vice-president of marketing is below the company's president, at the same level as the company's vice president of sales, and above the supervisor of the company's social media department. Each level answers to the level above it, with the ultimate leader of the organization at the top.
The easiest way to understand the term rational-legal decision-making rules is to think of it as a set of explicit and objective policies and procedures that governs how an organization functions. Examples of rational-legal decision-making rules include human resources rules and policies or the regulations governing who is entitled to unemployment insurance.

7.    STRATEGIC PLANNING (Henry Mintzberg)
Features
       It is an aggressive pursuit of change
       Ensures that all options are explored and that most appropriate option is selected
       Does not need comprehensive or voluminous data but only manageable data relevant to strategic issues

Disadvantages
       Main difference if public participation is targeted, not required in each step of the process, but is valued
       Tends to focus more on economic, physical, infrastructural, institutional solutions that often benefit the enthusiastic lead actors and lead sectors who carry it out;
       Strong on designing a ‘fit’ organization led by ‘champions’ who carry out change
       Strong on establishing ‘performance standards’ and on measuring results
       While this approach allows all activities of the organization to align to the strategic plan, priorities are often so broad that little direction is actually provided.

8.    INCREMENTAL PLANNING OR INCREMENTALISM (Charles Lindbloom)
       “Science of Muddling Through”
       Planner acts as mediator to determine common interest
       Determined through negotiation and political compromises

Limitations
       Because incremental plans lack a broad organizational focus, operational units that are responsible for maintaining programs or performing “enduring” activities have difficulty aligning their operations to the plan. This detachment from priorities is often perceived as a status demotion which will result in funding restrictions. Consequently, operational units often create weak or indirect alignment links to “justify” their position within the organization.


9.    COMMUNICATIVE THEORY

       Planning is more transactive rather than transactional
       Finding common ground and common aspirations among conflicting groups
       Group interest has to be determined by dialogue


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