Areas of Uncertainty Flashcards
What to do if the areas of uncertainty is the general environment which planning takes place?
Nature of Uncertainty: Planners do not usually know how the external world will change in the future
Means to Reduce or Resolve: Best Tackled by further research and information collection
What to do if the areas of uncertainty is the intention or policies in what are termed “related field of choice”
Nature of Uncertainty: There may be “knock-on” effects from other areas of decision-making that are outside the scope of the current planning exercise currently being undertaken but which are related to it.
Means to Reduce or Resolve: This can be reduced by adopting a more comprehensive planning approach which tries to integrate other current and possible future areas of policy and decision-making (i.e. more coordination in planning and the most appropriate forms of management and administrative structures)
Summary: The passage highlights the challenges in planning when related policies or decisions are outside the direct scope but can still affect outcomes. To reduce this uncertainty, a more holistic, coordinated, and forward-thinking approach to planning is recommended. This way, planners can better manage the interdependencies between different policy areas and ensure smoother outcomes despite uncertainties.
What to do if the areas of uncertainty is the uncertainty about the appropriate value judgments to be applied in making policy or plan decision and assessing their consequences
Nature of Uncertainty: Preferences politicians and the general public have with different policy options
Means to Reduce or Resolve: Can be reduced by obtaining what is sometimes termed as “policy guidance” from politicians (i.e. politicians provide planners with more information about how they perceive the relative merits of different alternatives and may also be supplemented through public participation in the planning process)
Summary: When the uncertainty in planning stems from differing value judgments held by politicians and the public, the solution is to seek policy guidance from political leaders to clarify their preferences, and to engage the public in the planning process to understand their priorities. This combined approach helps reduce the uncertainty by aligning plans with both political and public expectations, allowing for better decision-making and more broadly supported outcomes.
