Proposing A Conceptual Model of Planning Methodology in Public Domain

Abstract

Planning methodology is a core area of planning in public domain, making it a centre-piece of competence in scholarship and practice. However, research in planning methodology is scanty. The portrayal of planning as lacking semantic clarity has not helped either. Among three forms of planning, the importance of planning in public domain trails generic planning and corporate planning. However, scopes of generic and corporate planning methodologies are narrow compared to methodology in public domain. Results of secondary data on methodology of two long-term integrated plans prepared in the 2000s and 2010s in Kenya, and literature review clarifying semantic differences in seven types of planning in public domain are discussed. A conceptual model of planning methodology (MPM) in public domain consisting of eight attributes distributed in three parts of the model is proposed from the discussion. The parts are planning knowhow (PK), planning engagement (PE), and framework of planning methodology (FPM). PK has three attributes: professional competence, theory, and skills (PCTS); PE has two: interest holders (IH) and stakeholders (SH); while FPM has three: phase, ‘not planning type semantic specific’ (NPTS) steps and ‘planning type semantic specific’ (PTSS) steps. PTSS steps determine parting of ways (PW) in responding to semantic differentiation among seven types of planning in the planning process, while NPTSS steps are common to all types. PK and PE apply systematically in MPM, aided by FPM, affording the eight attributes of the proposed conceptual MPM to apply across the seven types of planning.