Concept of Planning Theory

Question 1

What is the five prevailing planning theories

Answer 1

SITAR
Synoptic
Incremental
Transactive
Advocacy
Radical

Question 2

(Proposition about planning that are yet to be proven; Assumptions and hypotheses)..based on planning concepts with respect to events, phenomenon that happened

Answer 2

Planning Theory

Question 3

can be used by planners to guide in doing planning and making it work.

Answer 3

Planning Theory

Question 4

Written guides that will help construct a better plan;

Answer 4

Planning Theory

Question 5

Provides the knowledge base to inform the planning process - theory in planning

Answer 5

Subject-Oriented Theory

Question 6

It covers theory related to subjects that are of concern to any particular situation. a.k.a Substantive Model

Answer 6

Subject-Oriented Theory

Question 7

Often refers to theory from other disciplines deemed relevant to circumstances.

Answer 7

Subject-oriented theory

Question 8

Description: Deals with the process of planning, with issues related to determining the “best” approaches for transferring knowledge to action - theory for planning

Answer 8

Procedural Theory

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Procedural Theory

Question 10

• Description: Describes what planning actually is and how it fits into the social context - theory of planning.

Answer 10

Definitional Theory

Question 11

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.

Answer 11

Definitional Theory

Question 12

Functional areas
• Physical planning
• Public investments
• Sectoral Planning

Answer 12

Substantive Model

Question 13

Focus of Concern
• Simplest and most intuitively obvious.
- Distinguishes planning models according to object of concern.
• Divides planning on substantive or sectoral lines.

Answer 13

Substantive model

Question 14

Functional Areas
• Regulatory planning
• Allocative planning
• Development planning
• Indicative planning

Answer 14

Instrumental Model

Question 15

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).

Answer 15

Instrumental Model

Question 16

Functional Areas
• Comprehensive planning
• Social planning
• Advocacy planning
• Bureaucratic planning
• Radical or anti- planning
• Incrementalism

Answer 16

Contextual Model

Question 17

Three Models

Answer 17

SIC
Substantive
Instrumental
Contextual

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Contextual Model

Question 19

Three Theory

Answer 19

SPD
Subject-oriented theory (Knowledge; in)
Procedural theory (Planning; for)
Definitional theory (Action; of)

Question 20

• Dedicated to a specific aspect (sole)
• as a tool (point of view)

Answer 20

Instrumental Model

Question 21

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.

Answer 21

Synoptic Planning

Question 22

Functional Rationality vs Substantial Rationality

Answer 22

• Functional Rationality. Identification of the right (rational) means to achieve a goal
• Substantial Rationality. Definition of correct (rational) end states or goals

Question 23

Functional Rationality vs Substantial Rationality

Answer 23

• Functional Rationality. Identification of the right (rational) means to achieve a goal
• Substantial Rationality. Definition of correct (rational) end states or goals

Question 24

• 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

Answer 24

Incremental Planning

Question 25

• 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

Answer 25

Incremental Planning

Question 26

• 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:

Answer 26

Incremental Planning

Question 27

• Focusing on short term and seeking marginal improvements over the status quo does not encourage societal innovations

Answer 27

Criticism for Incremental Planning

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Transactive Planning

Question 29

is a response to the widening gulf in communication between technical planners and their clients.

Answer 29

Transactive planning

Question 30

• 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

Answer 30

Criticisms for Transactive Planning

Question 31

• 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

Answer 31

Advocacy Planning

Question 32

• 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

Answer 32

Criticism for Advovacy Planning

Question 33

Based on Marxist critique of Rational/Comprehensive Planning Model (RCPM):

Answer 33

Radical Planning

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Radical Planning

Question 35

• This planning is an ambiguous tradition;
• No clear road map for doing planning

Answer 35

Criticism for Radical Planning

Question 36

Four sources of planning theory

Answer 36

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