MODULE 5: THE PUBLIC INTEREST

Question 1

What is Public Interest?

Answer 1

Common well-being, or aiding the general welfare.

Question 2

Lindblom’s definition of public interest

Answer 2

Choosing between advocating on behalf of underrepresented interest groups and taking the advancement of public participation as their central professional role.

Question 3

Jacobs’ definition of public interest

Answer 3

Smaller, slower and more tailored forms of intervention cognizant of local considerations.

Question 4

Campbell and Marshall’s three possibilities for public interest

Answer 4

1. Liberalism and utilitarianism
2. Inclusive, fair, and transparent processes
3. Recognize shared values

Question 5

Campbell and Marshall’s Liberalism and Utilitarianism approach to public interest (definition and criticism)

Answer 5

Public interest is conceived as either the sum of all individual interests or the greatest good for the greatest number. While utilitarianism prioritizes outcomes rather than process.

Criticism - does not adequately protect minority interests and can be used to justify abuse of some in order to maximize benefits of the majority. Tension between individual private interests and public interests.

Question 6

Campbell and Marshall’s “Inclusive, transparent, and fair process” approach to public interest (definition and criticism)

Answer 6

Planners playing a central role to facilitate everyone’s interests and seek mutually agreeable resolutions.

Criticism - places far too much emphasis on process, but sometimes neglects outcome.

Question 7

Campbell and Marshall’s “Recognizing Shared Values” approach to public interest

Answer 7

Placing individuals in the context of their broader community and focusing on their obligations to that community rather than on the simple advancement of their self-interest.

Question 8

Choices that planners make are informed by a system of norms that set the standards of right and proper conduct. What two roles do these standards play within moral thinking?

Answer 8

1. They govern our judgements about the rightness or wrongness of actions, the goodness or badness of certain states of affairs, and justice or injustice of social practices and institutions.
2. They direct us to act in conformity with those standards.

Question 9

What does the first section of the CIP Code of Conduct deal with?

Answer 9

Public interest, embedding the concept in the profession and identifies four minimum standards.

Question 10

What are the four minimum standards for planners’ responsibility to public interest?

Answer 10

1. Members shall practice in a manner that respects the diversity, needs, values, and aspirations of the public
2. Members shall provide full, clear, and accurate information on planning matters to decision-makers and members of the public
3. Members shall acknowledge the inter-related nature of planning decisions and the consequences for natural and human environments
4. Members shall provide opportunities for meaningful participation and education in the planning process.

Question 11

What are the enabling competencies of a planner?

Answer 11

1. Critical Thinking
2. Interpersonal
3. Communications
4. Leadership
5. Professional and Ethical Behaviour

Question 12

Critical Thinking

Answer 12

Identification, problem solving, decision making, research, analysis, innovation and creativity, political awareness, change management.

Question 13

Interpersonal

Answer 13

Integrity and trust, diversity and inclusiveness, facilitation, negotiation, collaboration, consensus building, conflict management

Question 14

Communications

Answer 14

Listening, written and oral presentations, use of information technology, internal and external relations

Question 15

Leadership

Answer 15

Vision, responsiveness, influences, team building, climate of excellence, managing resources and results.

Question 16

Professional and Ethical Behaviour

Answer 16

Ethical standards, professionalism