AICP Exam Prep - Theories of Planning
Practice and Urban Development
Questions And Answers
Rational Planning - Answer - Set Goals
Determine Alternatives
Evaluate the Alternatives
Choose an Alternative
Implement the Alternative
Evaluate
"satisfice" - Answer - developed by Herbert Simon
the principle of bounded rationality, which accepts that the human mind is limited in its ability to solve
problems. We instead choose alternatives that are good enough.
We can never have complete information.
Assumes that a planner has perfect knowledge of all of the factors in a given situation. A planner is able
to evaluate all alternatives and is not constrained by limits of time and money. - Answer - Why is pure
Rational Planning impossible?
"Administrative man" - Answer - Herbert Simon argues that the rational "economic man" should be
replaced by this. This satisfice because they do not have the means to maximize their decisions.
Pure Rationality - Answer - assumes that a planner has perfect knowledge of all of the factors in a given
situation. A planner is able to evaluate all alternatives and is not constrained by limits of time and
money
those that are complicated and difficult to solve.
Rational planning can only work when the problem can be easily defined and there can be a best
solution. - Answer - What is a "wicked" problem and why does it not allow Rational Planning to work?
, Incremental Planning - Answer - Planning theory introduced by Charles Lindblom in 1959 in an article
called "The Science of Muddling Through".
He argues that people accomplish goals through a series of successive, limited comparisons.
He suggests that planning has to be piecemeal, incremental, opportunistic, and pragmatic. Argues that
planning in the real world is not rational and comprehensive, but is instead disjointed and incremental.
Charles Lindblom in 1959 - Answer - who first introduce the theory of Incremental Planning?
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.
- Answer - What is one of the major problems with Incremental Planning?
Amitai Etzioni - Answer - Who introduce the concept of mixed scanning?
Mixed scanning - Answer - Compromise between the rational and incremental planning theories. Views
planning decisions at two levels: the big picture and the small picture.
Etzioni argues that fundamental policy-shaping decisions should be based on a more careful rational
analysis of alternatives. Implementation decisions should use an incremental approach.
This is the use of Mixed scanning concept. - Answer - What was Amitai Etzioni's argument on
fundamental policy-shaping decisions and implementation decisions?
Advocacy Planning - Answer - Developed in the 1960s by Paul Davidoff as a way to represent the
interests of groups within a community.
Davidoff argued that planners should represent special interest groups rather than acting for the good
of the whole community. - Answer - Why did Paul Davidoff argue that planning for the good of the
whole results in inadequate representation for many groups in planning?
Advocacy planner - Answer - Planner responsible for a particular interest group in the community and
would create plans that express that group's values and objectives. Planner would either work directly
for the interest group or as an inside advocate at city hall.
Practice and Urban Development
Questions And Answers
Rational Planning - Answer - Set Goals
Determine Alternatives
Evaluate the Alternatives
Choose an Alternative
Implement the Alternative
Evaluate
"satisfice" - Answer - developed by Herbert Simon
the principle of bounded rationality, which accepts that the human mind is limited in its ability to solve
problems. We instead choose alternatives that are good enough.
We can never have complete information.
Assumes that a planner has perfect knowledge of all of the factors in a given situation. A planner is able
to evaluate all alternatives and is not constrained by limits of time and money. - Answer - Why is pure
Rational Planning impossible?
"Administrative man" - Answer - Herbert Simon argues that the rational "economic man" should be
replaced by this. This satisfice because they do not have the means to maximize their decisions.
Pure Rationality - Answer - assumes that a planner has perfect knowledge of all of the factors in a given
situation. A planner is able to evaluate all alternatives and is not constrained by limits of time and
money
those that are complicated and difficult to solve.
Rational planning can only work when the problem can be easily defined and there can be a best
solution. - Answer - What is a "wicked" problem and why does it not allow Rational Planning to work?
, Incremental Planning - Answer - Planning theory introduced by Charles Lindblom in 1959 in an article
called "The Science of Muddling Through".
He argues that people accomplish goals through a series of successive, limited comparisons.
He suggests that planning has to be piecemeal, incremental, opportunistic, and pragmatic. Argues that
planning in the real world is not rational and comprehensive, but is instead disjointed and incremental.
Charles Lindblom in 1959 - Answer - who first introduce the theory of Incremental Planning?
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.
- Answer - What is one of the major problems with Incremental Planning?
Amitai Etzioni - Answer - Who introduce the concept of mixed scanning?
Mixed scanning - Answer - Compromise between the rational and incremental planning theories. Views
planning decisions at two levels: the big picture and the small picture.
Etzioni argues that fundamental policy-shaping decisions should be based on a more careful rational
analysis of alternatives. Implementation decisions should use an incremental approach.
This is the use of Mixed scanning concept. - Answer - What was Amitai Etzioni's argument on
fundamental policy-shaping decisions and implementation decisions?
Advocacy Planning - Answer - Developed in the 1960s by Paul Davidoff as a way to represent the
interests of groups within a community.
Davidoff argued that planners should represent special interest groups rather than acting for the good
of the whole community. - Answer - Why did Paul Davidoff argue that planning for the good of the
whole results in inadequate representation for many groups in planning?
Advocacy planner - Answer - Planner responsible for a particular interest group in the community and
would create plans that express that group's values and objectives. Planner would either work directly
for the interest group or as an inside advocate at city hall.
