May 1, 2024
Updated May 9, 2025
19 minute read
Planning, in its broadest sense, is the process of thinking about and organizing the activities required to achieve a desired goal. It involves the creation and maintenance of a plan, which is a set of intended actions, usually mutually related, through which one expects to achieve a goal. Planning is a fundamental human activity, integral to personal development, business success, and the functioning of societies. From mapping out your career to designing a city, planning provides a framework for envisioning a future and outlining the steps to reach it.
Working in the field of planning can be incredibly engaging and exciting. Planners often tackle complex problems, requiring creative and analytical thinking to develop innovative solutions. They have the opportunity to shape the future, whether it's a new product, a community, or an organization's strategic direction. The interdisciplinary nature of planning means professionals frequently collaborate with a diverse range of people, from engineers and architects to community members and policymakers, making it a dynamic and socially interactive career path.
Introduction to Planning
This section will delve into what planning entails, its historical roots, its core aims, and some common misunderstandings surrounding the field.
Definition and Scope of Planning
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Reading list
We've selected 19 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Planning.
This textbook provides an in-depth introduction to the factors influencing urban planning today, including political, economic, and environmental aspects. The 12th edition tackles recent issues like climate change, affordable housing, and public participation, making it highly relevant for understanding contemporary planning challenges. It is commonly used as a textbook in urban planning programs.
The PMBOK Guide foundational reference for project management, outlining standard processes, methods, and practices. While focused on projects, its principles are highly applicable to various planning endeavors. This must-have reference for anyone involved in project-based planning and is widely recognized and used by professionals globally.
Delves into the core of what constitutes good and bad strategy, offering clear frameworks for analysis and formulation. It helps to deepen understanding of strategic planning principles, moving beyond buzzwords to practical application. It's a highly recommended read for anyone involved in strategic decision-making.
Widely-used guide to strategic planning specifically tailored for public and nonprofit sectors. It provides a structured approach to developing and implementing strategic plans, essential for understanding planning in an organizational context. It is commonly used as a textbook in relevant academic programs and useful reference tool for professionals.
A seminal work in urban planning, this book critically examines post-war urban renewal policies and advocates for diverse, vibrant, and human-scaled cities. While focused on urban environments, its insights into community dynamics and the unintended consequences of planning are broadly relevant. This is considered a classic and provides essential historical context for urban planning discussions.
Written by a former FBI hostage negotiator, this book offers practical and effective negotiation strategies applicable in high-stakes situations. It's a valuable resource for anyone whose planning involves complex negotiations and conflict resolution. It is considered a must-read in the field of negotiation.
Details how government policies in the United States created and maintained racial segregation. It's essential reading for understanding the historical context of contemporary urban planning challenges related to equity and social justice. It highlights the long-lasting impacts of past planning decisions and the importance of considering social equity in current planning efforts.
Presents a collection of actionable solutions to address climate change, a critical contemporary planning issue. It moves beyond identifying problems to proposing concrete strategies, offering valuable insights for environmental planning and sustainability efforts. It's a key resource for those interested in climate action and planning.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of supply chain management, covering strategy, planning, and operations. It's a core resource for understanding planning within a business and logistics context, essential for those interested in operations and supply chain planning. It is widely used as a textbook in business and supply chain programs.
Provides a foundational understanding of systems thinking, which is crucial for comprehending the interconnectedness of various elements in any planning process. It's an excellent starting point for gaining a broad understanding of how different parts of a system interact and influence outcomes, applicable across diverse planning domains. It can serve as prerequisite reading for anyone new to complex problem-solving.
Effective planning often involves negotiation and reaching agreements with various stakeholders. This classic book provides a principled approach to negotiation, focusing on finding mutually beneficial solutions. It's essential reading for anyone whose planning activities require collaboration and consensus-building.
Explores the organized efforts to obstruct action on climate change and provides strategies for countering them. It's highly relevant to contemporary environmental planning, highlighting the political and social challenges involved in implementing climate solutions. It provides important context for planners working on climate resilience and mitigation.
While focused on startups, this book's principles of iterative development, validated learning, and adaptive planning are highly applicable to planning in dynamic and uncertain environments. It's a must-read for those interested in agile planning methodologies and innovation.
This influential book argues that the conventional planning practice of requiring ample free parking has detrimental effects on cities, including increased traffic congestion and reduced urban vitality. It's a key text in contemporary urban planning debates, offering a critical perspective on a common planning issue. It's particularly useful for those focusing on transportation and land use planning.
Explores how intentionality and structure can transform any group gathering, from casual meetings to large conferences. Its principles are highly relevant to planning events, workshops, and community engagement processes, emphasizing the importance of purpose and human connection. It's a useful guide for anyone involved in planning convenings.
By a Nobel laureate in economics explores the two systems that drive the way we think: System 1 (fast, intuitive) and System 2 (slow, logical). Understanding these cognitive biases is crucial for effective decision-making and planning, as it helps in anticipating potential pitfalls and making more rational choices. It offers valuable background knowledge in behavioral economics relevant to planning.
This comprehensive textbook leading resource in the field of artificial intelligence, including significant sections on AI planning and decision-making. While technically demanding, it provides a deep dive into the computational aspects of planning, relevant for those interested in AI and automated planning systems. It standard textbook in AI and computer science.
An ancient Chinese military treatise, this book's principles of strategy and planning have been applied to various fields, including business and management. While not directly about modern planning, its timeless lessons on understanding your environment, setting objectives, and adapting to circumstances offer valuable foundational insights into strategic thinking. It is considered a classic in strategy.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
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