Strategic Planning: A tool for new governments

Strategic Planning has become a crucial instrument for cities in the XXI century. Its main purpose

is finding ways to use as best possible all available assets and resources to accomplish social and

economic results at the lowest cost (Moore 2004). Historically, traditional land-use planning has

been characterised by a style of administration based on government designations for zoning rather

than creating collective decisions. In modern society, it is essential that planning be adaptable to

different contexts, scales and scopes. It needs to be socially responsible and legitimate by the

participation of multiple stakeholders. As a consequence, modern cities are required to use

Strategic Planning instead of former models of development.

Strategic Planning has been created as a response to traditional land-use planning systems

(Albrechts 2006). One of its main characteristics is being flexible to future changes and the ability

to adjust to social, economic and politic dynamics. Modern cities must be adaptable to underlying

global forces that are constantly in a state of change; they have to be resilient to external alterations.

Globalisation, global warming and terrorism are external pressures to cities these days that require

quick changes in response to possible threats. According to Dominic Stead: cities are complex

systems that are in a constant state of change and evolution, and urban resilience is the way to

provide a guide to these processes (Stead 2014). Therefore, Strategic Planning is necessary such

that cities become less rigid and more adjustable within a changing context. It is a tool to increase

urban resilience. Consequently, it makes cities less vulnerable to external shocks and helps to meet

the future changes without compromising basic infrastructure.

Another benefit of Strategic Planning is its effectiveness to involve a diverse range of institutions in

planning processes. It creates a shared vision of the future according to the needs of different

actors. Also, it collectively outlines priorities and strategies that are shared by all stakeholders. It

defines an appropriate backdrop to mutually expose and learn from different opinions, and also to

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guide to direct zoning and spatial development, but Strategic Planning is a tool that also “shape the

minds” of actors involved in that process (Rivolin 2008). As a result, it creates the setting to discuss

urban policies between stakeholders that otherwise would have been straightaway adopted by the

government. According to this, Strategic Planning is vital in directing efforts from different

organizations to achieve the same objectives. It is a key factor in reinforcing urban governance.

However, urban governance is not limited to institutions. As a metropolitan issue, in recent years it

has become a concern to diverse social groups and individuals. Consequently, the city government,

as the representative institution of people, has to play a social role in urban planning. Contrary to

traditional land-use plans, Strategic Planning creates participatory processes that legitimise

decisions which involve people that are affected by government resolutions. “Coproduction of plans

with the major stakeholders and the involvement of `weak' groups in the land-use planning process

are almost non-existent” (Albrechts 2004). In response to this, Strategic Planning consents the

creation of a more inclusive society as it helps governments better hear the needs from the most

vulnerable groups. Then, it is a tool for modern governments to create social credibility. Strategic

Planning permits a social support for decisions and consequently, a strengthening of governability

in the cities.

An example of the successful outcomes resulting from the implementation of Strategic Planning is

the CityPlan of Vancouver. Due to a long process of stakeholder participation and community

involvement, this metropolis was recognized globally by succeeding a transformation to become

one of the most liveable cities of the world (McAFEE 2013). From 1992 to 1996 Vancouver City

government made a three stage process to create a new CityPlan. The Council involved more than

100,000 citizens to evaluate different decisions and generate ideas to draft the new CityPlan. Based

on this result, the stakeholders were engaged to create a series of policies and strategies to

implement the plan. Finally, urban zoning and regulations were completed receiving community

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created a shared vision that was the base for the renewal of the city. Strategic Planning motivated

community engagement and involvement which was the key factor in developing a successful city.

Overall, Strategic Planning is considered as an alternative to Land-use Planning. This method

creates a system that involve citizens and key-decision makers in planning processes. It is a way

of legitimising decisions arranged by the government and guarantee that they have social and

economic support in the city as was the case in Vancouver. Moreover, Strategic Planning is flexible

and susceptible to changes, which is important in enabling an increase of urban resilience to

tolerate disruptions. Therefore, Strategic Planning is a valuable tool that modern governments can

use to create a common vision of the future, to protect cities from external shocks and also to direct

policies and decisions towards a development model that is legitimated by citizens.

References

ALBRECHTS, L. 2004. Strategic (spatial) planning re-examined. Environment and Planning, 31,
743-758.
ALBRECHTS, L. 2006. Shifts in Strategic Spatial Planning? Some Evidence from Europe and
Australia. Environment and Planning, 38, 1149-1170.
MCAFEE, A. 2013. Tools for Change: CityPlan Vancouver’s Strategic Planning Process. Built
Environment, 39, 438-453.
MOORE, M. 2004. On Creating Public Value: What Business Might Learn from Government about
Strategic Management. Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Working Paper, 3.
RIVOLIN, U. J. 2008. Conforming and Performing Planning Systems in Europe: An Unbearable
Cohabitation. Planning, Practice and Research, 23.
STEAD, D. 2014. Urban planning, water management and climate change strategies: adaptation,
mitigation and resilience narratives in the Netherlands. International Journal of Sustainable
Development & World Ecology, 21.

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