TOPIC FIVE

GENERIC PLANNING PROCESS

Introduction
• These are activities ideally that should be undertaken during planning.
Regardless of any literature you read, it will point at such process
1. Problem identification and definition
2.Data collection and analysis
3. Determination of constraints, objective and opportunities
4. Generation of alternative options
5. Evaluation of each alternative
6. The choice of the preferred alternative
7. Implementation
8. Monitoring and Evaluation of all the planning process
Generic process according to Carley (1980)
in Diana Conyers and Peter Hills (1989)
1. Problem identification and definition
2. Classification and organization of goals, values and objectives relating to
the problem
3. Identification of alternative courses of action
4. Prediction of the consequences of each alternative course of action and
likelihood of these occurring
5. Comparison of the predicted consequences in relation to specified goals
and objectives
6. Selection of a course of action
Read about 10 stage comprehensive planning system by Beenhakker (1980)
Regardless of literature, a good planning process should ideally adopt
such activities as
1. Goal formulation and identification of objectives
2. The study of possible courses of action (often with the aid of models )
3. Evaluation oof alternatives by reference to values and costs and
benefits
4. Action through public investment or control over private investment
5. Review (monitoring) of the state of the system

McLoughlin (1969)
1. Problem Identification & definition
• Problem identification is the main concern of the social planner
• Not all problems can be handled by social planners
• Problems; discrepancies to what is and what should be-a result of unmet or unsatisfied
needs
• Its prerequisite for planning; identify and specify the problem prior for planning
(justification)
• Purpose here is to make better what would otherwise be worse. Clear justification for
planning
• At this stage, identify areas of concern to planners; areas/issues that can be solved thru
planning since not all problems can solved thru planning
• Sources of problems?
• Some problems could be a product of appropriate institutions; NEMA due to lack of
concern for environment, I.G.G, Human Rights, Minimum Wage, Now Anti-corruption Unit
(state house Lt.Col Nakalema, Fika Salama)
• See Feature story
• Some are a product of political conflict while others security concern (Rwanda – Uganda
Standoff) and these might need another intervention not social planning but political
intervention
• E.g thriving corruption amidst many agencies established (I.G.G, Anti-Corruption Court,
Unit, etc) hence, not all problems are social planner’s concern
• Political Pronouncement of UPE and USE, abolition of graduated tax without social
planning (came later), Sanitary towels to school going girls
• Issues at MUK and many other institutions.
• Issues that can professionally be solved by planning activity are called planning problems
• Stem from unmet/unsatisfied needs of the community ie if there is a gap between
current attainment of an individual or group, their desires and aspirations Minimum
wage
• Process of problem identification; establishment of conditions constituting a problem,
ways it manifests itself, effects on individuals/grps and com’ty
• Process involves identifying victims of the undesirable conditions and circumstances that
perpetrate the problem (is it social, political, economic factors e.g nodding disease, youth
unemployment, poverty among the edged, child poverty). Then planning can begin
 2. Data collection, analysis and forecasting
• Valid data based evidence is key for good decisions about people’s welfare
(Policy-based evidence vs Evidence-based-policy)
• Information gathering is very cardinal in planning process for social services
• The How, when, where, why; statistics, how many are affected, nature of the
problem, manifestations, impact –short and long term, duration, categories
• Identification of “who is benefitting” from the problem
• Economic status of the people
• Establish all information concerning the affected people as well as whether
the problem is solvable or not
• A thorough analysis with clear terms of reference should be done to ensure
a clear definition of the problem.
• Check for analysis packages
 3. Determination of constraints, opportunities and
objectives
• Understand the environment in which the plan is to operate
• Opportunities-facilitators- things that can help a planner (e.g pol. Will,
structures, resources)
• Constraints are hindrances/ impediments to implementation (politics,
opposition from the community, culture etc)
• Objectives; desire state of affairs
• How has the community responded to different interventions by other
agencies to solve the problem
• Possibly, constraints could be turned into opportunities or else you look for
other ways of overcoming constraints
• Setting objectives; what are set t achieve? A statement of intent “SMART”
• Should show; who are the beneficiaries, when to implement, completion.
 4. Generation an deliberation of alternatives
• Planning calls for making decisions and choices on how to solve a problem
• Calls for generation of viable alternatives due to resources availability and
related factors
• Define and establish as many alternatives as possible that can solve the
problem
• There is no one way of solving the social problems faced by a social planner.
E.g Rwanda – Uganda Standoff (economic definition- how many dollars lost
weekly)
• E.g in the wake of 20,000 girls catching HIV. What alternatives do we have to
solve this problem?
• Discuss this predicament
 5. Evaluation of alternatives
• Not all alternatives can be implemented due to resource constraints and
neither can all problems be solved at the same time. Hence, choice
• all the generated alternatives must be evaluated thoroughly to determine
the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative, viability and
feasibility
• key objective of such evaluation is to achieve maximization of effective and
efficiency ; use of limited resources to achieve maximum gain.
• Evaluation of all alternatives will establish each’s constraints and
opportunities, values and beliefs of the programme.
• Many evaluation techniques can be used here; E.I.A, Cost-benefit Analysis,
Net Present Value (NPV), Payback period (PBP) check Conyers & Peter Hills
(1989)
 6. The choice of the preferred alternatives

• This stage proceeds evaluation of alternatives and the best

alternative(s)
• The best alternative should be based on the pros and cons accruing
from the evaluation exercise.
• Care should be taken in choosing and as such, the best alternative
should be realistic and politically acceptable
• Should be in line with national policies and in line with people’s needs.
• It should recognize the socio-political environment of the society.
7. Implementation of the plan
• Often regarded as something beyond the scope of planners/ing.
• Because actual implementation is done by administrators, technical personnel (road
contractors etc)
• Planners shouldn’t ignore implementation stage
• Because of the cyclical nature of planning, implementation cannot be seen in isolation of all
other stages
• Constraints affecting the implementation of the projects can be identified before, during and
after implementation (identifying, appraising course of action and during or after
implementation)
• Here, concern is how to operationalize plans or to plan the implementation process
(identifying various activities, timelines, resource mobilization) necessary for implementation.
• Very cardinal stage often neglected because its not seen as a responsibility of planners
• Its imperative special implementation management structures are set up to ensure plans are
properly implemented
Ref. Conyers and Hills (1989)
 8. Monitoring and evaluation
• During plan implementation, its vital to monitor progress; to ensure activities are being undertaken
according to plan
• Identify any problems that may occur or what is actually happening during the implementation process
(New Cable bridge at Nile)
• Monitoring should be a continuous process at all stages hence need to plan what sort of monitoring
should be undertaken
• Evaluation; whether the plan is meting the goals and objectives during or after; any anticipated effects,
lessons for future planning, reasons for success and failure
• Collection of data on key or all parts of the project for the effect. These could be source of new problems
or issues which should become the focus of planning activity in future
• Key role of M&E here is a means of measuring past success and failures and providing information
needed to improve future planning activity
• Tools (performance measures- Inputs-outputs ratios, impact indicators-objectives and goals,
Appropriateness assessment-Socio, econ, env’tal, health etc, institutional assessment-role of the
implementation orgn/agency etc)
• Key issues here are, when will evaluation be carried out (nature of the plan, resources constraints)? Who
should carry out evaluation; Internal or external? (all have their advs & Disadvs) and finally Scope of the
evaluation (COSASE and report on B.O.U and Closure of banks)
Types of Evaluation
two broad types of evaluation in the planning process
Comprehensive evaluation; Partial evaluation
• Focuses on the project/plan in • Only focuses on a
totality subsection/part of the com’ty or
• Considers and records measures subsection of the full range of
of variation in the wellbeing of the planning consequences
the project beneficiaries • The cardinal difference between
• Considers different aspects of comprehensive and partial
the project proposal/plan like evaluation is on scope
time resources, time, equipment
depending on the project
 Basic elements of evaluation
any planner during evaluation should take into consideration the following;
1. Feasibility 2. Effectiveness
• Here key questions must be asked; Is the • Well defined goals and objectives is
proposal realistic? Will it work? Solve the
problem? In line with Socio-political and
cardinal for planning
finance aspects? These must be answered • They guide planners whether the
• Pol. Feasibility- compatibility with political planned proposal will effectively
policies and acceptability solve the identified problem
• Financial feasibility; whether there will be • Therefore during evaluation, every
adequate financial backup-benefits proposed plan must be assessed in
warrant cost
terms of this effectiveness in
• Social planners and evaluators, concern
satisfying set objectives
should be on social and cultural
feasibility; weaken or strengthen the
cultural heritage of the target group
3. Resources 4. Impact incidence
• During evaluation, financial and • Assesses how the proposed plan
human resources must be will affect beneficiaries, nature
considered. of the benefits and which people
• Whether the proposed plan will will be made to suffer and how
yield envisaged returns worth • Impact will absolutely differ from
the resources one group, individual and
• Consideration of resources communities to the other
renewable and nonrenewable; • All avriances must be evaluated
will it be time or funds or human
resources
5. Uncertainty
• This concerns the future
predication of events and they
will affect the planned project
• Uncertainty looks at predicting
the future and calls for
monitoring as key ingredient in
identifying likely problems that
require action and means
devised to address them duly
6. level of performance
• Relates to whether the plan will
be known to have made its mark
in effectiveness establishment
• Measuring level of performance
on a scale or scales; satisfactory,
Unsatisfactory, tolerable or
intolerable, adequately or
inadequately etc
• When shall determine the level
of performance on the
effectiveness of the project
(UPE/USE on education for all).
Rationale for evaluation
• Consider resources fact
• Predict the future
• Assessment of performance; objectives help to determine
the performance
• Impact assessments – viability.
• Assess advantages and disadvantages of plans.
• Value for money-quality of what is on ground
• Learning experiences for future planning/improvement
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