Planning Theory

Question 1

Rational Planning

Answer 1

Steps:
1. Set goals
2. Determine alternatives
3. Evaluate alternatives
4. Choose an alternative
5. Implement the alterative
6. Evaluate

Dominant in 1950s. Persists, esp. in transportation planning.

Critiques:
- Assumes perfect knowledge, unconstrained time/resources.
- Cannot address “wicked” problems
- Doesn’t specify who sets goals, esp. if no consensus

• Banfield, Perloff
• Synoptic/comprehensive

Question 2

Satisfice

Answer 2

Herbert Simon. Principle of bounded rationality. Choose alternatives that are “good enough”

Question 3

Wicked Problems

Answer 3

Complicated and difficult to solve. Cannot necessarily be solved rationally.

Question 4

Incremental Planning

Answer 4

1959, Charles Lindblom, “The Science of Muddling Through.” Goals accomplished through series of successive, limited comparisons. Does not specify whose values should be used.

Question 5

Mixed Scanning

Answer 5

Amitai Etzioni. Compromise between rational and incremental. Big picture and small picture. Policy development vs. implementation.

Question 6

Advocacy Planning

Answer 6

1960s. Paul Davidoff. Planners representing different special interest groups. Critique: Can result in conflicts among interest groups. Whose plan should be adopted/funded.

Question 7

Equity Planning

Answer 7

1970s. Norman Krumholz, Cleveland. Planners work to redistribute power toward disadvantaged groups. Critique: Leaves few options if local leaders are not in tune.

Question 8

Transactive Planning

Answer 8

1973, John Friedmann, Retracking America: A Theory of Transactive Planning. More public involvement. Process of “mutual learning.”

Critiques: Time-consuming. How to evaluate community members’ knowledge. Doesn’t work when large differences of opinions or many stakeholders.

Question 9

Radical Planning

Answer 9

1987, John Friedmann, Planning in the Public Domain: From Knowledge to Action. Redistributing power away from government and toward citizens.

Critique: Hard to implement.

Question 10

Communicative Planning

Answer 10

Current theory of choice. More intensive citizen participation. Political context. Varied stakeholder interests. Rational model as a basis for generating consensus.

Grew out of American pragmatism and European critical theory. Also evolved out of advocacy and transactive planning. Shift from planning for people to facilitating social interactions among stakeholders to form consensus.

Question 11

Normative Theory

Answer 11

Kevin Lynch