Planning Theory Flashcards
What are the basic steps of Rational Planning?
Set goals determine alternatives evaluate the alternatives choose an alternative implement the alternative evaluate
What does the term “satisfice” mean and refer to?
Herbert Simon coined the term “satisfice”
principle of bounded rationality
accepts that the human mind is limited in its ability to solve problems. we instead choose alternatives that are good enough.
Simon argued that the rational ‘economic man’ should be replaced by the ‘administrative man’ who satisfies.
What is a “wicked problem?”
problems that are complicated and difficult to solve (eg. homelessness - no root cause and no alternative to eliminate the problem).
Rational planning cannot be used for wicked problems
A criticism of rational planning is that it does not specify who sets goals. explain.
rationality is supposed to be value-free. goals are based on public interest, defined as the good of the whole community. rational planning should not be used when there is not consensus within a community on a particular issue.
“The Science of Muddling Through”
Charles Lindblom
published 1959
introduced the concept of incrementalism
Incremental Planning
Charles Lindblom argued that people makes their plans and decisions in an incremental manner, accomplishing their goals through a series of successive, limited comparisons.
He suggested that planning has to be piecemeal, incremental, opportunistic, and pragmatic. Planning in the real world is not rational and comprehensive, but is instead disjointed and incremental.
How did Charles Lindblom argue that problems are solved?
Problems are solved through a series of policies at different points in time, rather than all at once. The planning process is focused on solving existing problems rather than on achieving a future desired state.
According to Lindblom, how do planners analyze alternatives?
They do not attempt to analyze alternatives in detail but instead consider where alternatives differ from one another or from what is being done presently. Decision-makers consider only a limited number of policy alternatives and, while doing so, consider only a limited number of important consequences.
How is the zoning ordinance an example of incremental planning?
Planning departments rarely conduct a complete overhaul of the zoning ordinance; instead, the zoning ordinance is tweaked to assist in achieving the goals of the comprehensive plan.
Mixed Scanning
Amitai Etzioni
Mixed scanning as a compromise between rational and incremental planning theories.
Mixed scanning views planning decisions at two levels: the big picture and the small picture.
Fundamental policy-shaping decisions should be based on a careful rational analysis of alternatives.
Implementation decisions should use an incremental approach.
How does Mixed Scanning theory improve upon incrementalism?
Mixed Scanning recognizes the difference between policy-changing decisions and implementation decisions.
For example a comprehensive plan would be created using the rational approach and implemented using the incremental approach.
Advocacy Planning
Paul Davidoff
1960s
a way to represent the interests of groups within a community.
Planners should work to create plans that represent varying interest groups, resulting in plural plans for public consideration.
“Public Interest’
“The good of the whole”
Advocacy planning argued that planning for the good of the whole results in inadequate representation for many groups.
In advocacy planning, whose interest should a planner further?
The advocacy planner should be responsible for a particular interest group in the community and create plans that express that group’s values and objectives. Planners would either work directly for the interest group or as an inside advocate at the city hall.
What was the key change that advocacy planning introduced to incremental and rational planning?
Advocacy planning shifted for whom the planner plans, but it did not change what the planner does.
