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The-Planning-Cycle

Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How do we get there? Have we arrived?

Where are we now?

  • Getting started

  • Stakeholders & participation

  • Situation Assessment

  • Build team & trust

  • Stakeholder analysis:

    • Who are stakeholders?

  • Gather key information

  • What is the central problem to be addressed

Where do we want to go?

  • Goals:
    • Broad, directional
  • Objectives
    • Specific goals under a "theme"
  • Positions:
    • What we want
  • Interests:
    • Why we want it

How do we get there?

  • Principle/goal
  • (Desired result)
    • Criterion/objective
    • (Conditions for success)
      • Indicator
      • (Measureable variable)
        • Measure/verifier
        • (Quantitative information)
  • Scenario development
  • Tradeoffs and optimization
  • Structured decision making
    • Swing weighting
    • Consequence tables

Multiple levels:

  • Strategic (e.g., policy)
  • Tactical (e.g., procedure)
  • Operational (e.g., execution)

We should always be familiar with what level we are planning at.

Iterative planning across scale and level​

How does my strategy at the city level impact the region and vice versa.

Power in planning​

Always an issuie

  • some people sitting at the table is more powerful than others
  • Most of the economic interests are paying representatives (e.g., lawyers) to show up to these meetings
  • Likewise, many charities / neighborhood groups do not have the resources to hire representatives

Uncertainty​

Conservation problems are often

  • complex
  • Uncertain
  • Involve multiple stakeholders/interests
  • Involve potential losses (monetary, cultural, ecological)

A good process and plan will allow you to:

  • Uncover values
  • Integrate complex technical information
  • Understand decision consequences
  • Adapt to changing conditions