Concept of Planning Theory Flashcards
What is the five prevailing planning theories
SITAR
Synoptic
Incremental
Transactive
Advocacy
Radical
(Proposition about planning that are yet to be proven; Assumptions and hypotheses)..based on planning concepts with respect to events, phenomenon that happened
Planning Theory
can be used by planners to guide in doing planning and making it work.
Planning Theory
Written guides that will help construct a better plan;
Planning Theory
Provides the knowledge base to inform the planning process - theory in planning
Subject-Oriented Theory
It covers theory related to subjects that are of concern to any particular situation. a.k.a Substantive Model
Subject-Oriented Theory
Often refers to theory from other disciplines deemed relevant to circumstances.
Subject-oriented theory
Description: Deals with the process of planning, with issues related to determining the “best” approaches for transferring knowledge to action - theory for planning
Procedural Theory
Includes: (i) what type of planning process is applied; (ii) how decisions are made; (i) how values are included; (iv) who is incorporated in the planning process; and (v) other procedural issues. a.k.a Instrumental Model
Procedural Theory
- Description: Describes what planning actually is and how it fits into the social context - theory of planning.
Definitional Theory
Examines the role of planning within the system of which it is a part and includes political and social theories. a.k.a Contextual
Model
• Embodies the subject-oriented and procedural aspects of planning and their relation to action.
Definitional Theory
Functional areas
• Physical planning
• Public investments
• Sectoral Planning
Substantive Model
Focus of Concern
• Simplest and most intuitively obvious.
- Distinguishes planning models according to object of concern.
• Divides planning on substantive or sectoral lines.
Substantive model
Functional Areas
• Regulatory planning
• Allocative planning
• Development planning
• Indicative planning
Instrumental Model
Focus of Concern
• More conceptual
• Regulatory planning
• Looks at planning from instrumental point of view i.e. how types of planning want to accomplish; tools being deployed;
analyses of real-life behavior).
Instrumental Model
Functional Areas
• Comprehensive planning
• Social planning
• Advocacy planning
• Bureaucratic planning
• Radical or anti- planning
• Incrementalism
Contextual Model
Three Models
SIC
Substantive
Instrumental
Contextual
Focus of Concern
• Identified in historical retrospect and contemporary observation
• Relates different types of planning to different socio-political contexts
• Distinct areas of activities relate to their context of time, social institutions and
value - ideologies, premises
Contextual Model
Three Theory
SPD
Subject-oriented theory (Knowledge; in)
Procedural theory (Planning; for)
Definitional theory (Action; of)
- Dedicated to a specific aspect (sole)
- as a tool (point of view)
Instrumental Model
Planning re-defined as a scientific process (based on scientific techniques) and not just a design activity
- planning is step-by-step; evidence-based, and complete
• rooted in the collection and examination of data,
• evaluation of alternative courses of action and
• the creation of systems for implementation.
Synoptic Planning
Functional Rationality vs Substantial Rationality
• Functional Rationality. Identification of the right (rational) means to achieve a goal
• Substantial Rationality. Definition of correct (rational) end states or goals
Functional Rationality vs Substantial Rationality
• Functional Rationality. Identification of the right (rational) means to achieve a goal
• Substantial Rationality. Definition of correct (rational) end states or goals
• Consideration of a few alternatives that are marginally different from the status quo
• Simplified, limited comparisons among the few alternatives
• Modest complexity and comprehensiveness of data collection, analysis and forecasting
• No long-range (long-term) goals or vision
Incremental Planning
• Agreement among decision-makers (not elaborate scientific analysis) as the main ingredient for policy (plan) adoption
• Flexibility: decisions can easily be changed (modified or abandoned) if they later turn out to be inappropriate
• Lindblom described his model as partisan mutual adjustment and disjointed incrementalism
Incremental Planning
• Decisions are taken by consent among partisans without a society-wide regulatory centre and guiding institutions
• Decisions made under the Incrementalist model would reflect the interests of the most powerful:
Incremental Planning
• Focusing on short term and seeking marginal improvements over the status quo does not encourage societal innovations
Criticism for Incremental Planning
Main proponent is John Friedmann (1973)
• Rejects planning approaches that view people/ communities as ‘anonymous target beneficiaries’
• Focuses on face-to-face contacts between planners and those affected
• More emphasis on collaboration, participation, dialogue and mutual learning than surveys and analyses
Transactive Planning
is a response to the widening gulf in communication between technical planners and their clients.
Transactive planning
• Those who can dialogue well are likely to manipulate others
• i.e. the outcome (the plan) may not reflect real collective decision-making
• Participation takes time which parts of the population do not have, especially the poorer ones. Their interests may be ignored;
• High participation costs;
• Sometimes the population may not be prepared to plan for the long run and thereby to postpone short-term satisfaction (Hostovsky
Criticisms for Transactive Planning
• Its main Proponent is Paul Davidoff (1965) in his famous article, “Advocacy and Pluralism in Planning”
• Provision of ‘Planning Services’ to low-income and minority neighbourhoods
• ‘Public interest’ determined through debate or consensus building among the Advocate Planners
Advocacy Planning
• Too tasking and difficult for the planners involved
• Advocate Planners are demographically different from their
‘clients’
• Raises expectations among the poor that cannot be met
• It further weakens the political influence of the poor
Criticism for Advovacy Planning
Based on Marxist critique of Rational/Comprehensive Planning Model (RCPM):
Radical Planning
Call for decentralization, ecological attentiveness and spontaneous activism guided by a vision of self-reliance and mutual aid
• emphasizes the importance of personal growth, cooperative spirit, and freedom from manipulation by anonymous forces
Radical Planning
• This planning is an ambiguous tradition;
• No clear road map for doing planning
Criticism for Radical Planning
Four sources of planning theory
FICC
1. First planners from the design profession
2. Ideological Content of Ideas Relating to Planning
3. Concept of Comprehensiveness
4. Contributions of the Social Sciences
