ASSIGNMENT 1 Planning is a complex and continuously evolving concept, largely reflecting its historical response to prevailing environmental, economic

and socio-cultural challenges (Thompson, 2009:11). Against the backdrop of the statement, discuss some of the planning issues and challenges which you think are of great significance facing our society. How can one equip oneself in order to become effective in meeting these challenges? What will be your views of planners of the future? Please be to explore other aspects of planning which you think are critical in the making of effective planners.

Planning Issues and Challenges

According to the American Planning Association on 2006, planning is about works to improve the welfare of people and their communities by creating more convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient and attractive place for present and future generations. A good planning helps create communities that offer batter choices for where and how people live. Planning helps community members envision the directions their community grow and will help them find the right balance of new development and essential services, protection of the environment, and innovative change.

Nowadays, planning faced more difficult issues and challenges which are globalization, political power influences, achieving sustainable planning and fulfill the publics desire. Globalization can be generally thought of in terms of flows, of trade, commodities, capital, information and people.

Globalization has re-emphasized the importance of cities, transportation and communications. Major urban areas are in general becoming larger, and in most countries, they produce a far greater share of the Gross Domestic Product than their share of the population. Markets are worldwide, instead of being just local or national, barriers to trade are diminishing, and it is gradually becoming recognized and understood that the welfare of nations depends on the prosperity of urban centers.

Political power influences is the others problems faced by the planning. The term was coined by Oxford professor Bent Flyvbjerg (1996: 383) based on research of how political power influences rationality in urban planning (Flyvbjerg 1991, 1998). Flyvbjerg's definition of the dark side of planning draws and expands upon Ludwig von Rochau's distinction between politics and Realpolitik (real, practical politics), made famous by Otto von Bismarck and signaling the advent of modern political science. Flyvbjerg (1996) argues that distinguishing between rationality and real rationality is as important for the understanding of planning as distinguishing between politics and Realpolitik is for the understanding of politics. The real rationalities of urban planners are called "dark" because it turns out that what planners do in actual practice often does not stand the light of day, i.e., actual urban planning practice often violates generally accepted norms of democracy, efficiency, and equity and thus of planning ethics.

Sustainable development and sustainability influence today's urban planners. Some planners argue that modern lifestyles use too many natural resources, polluting or destroying ecosystems, increasing social inequality, creating urban heat islands, and causing climate change. Many urban planners, therefore, advocate sustainable cities.

However, sustainable development is a recent, controversial concept.[15] Wheeler, in his 1998 article, defines sustainable urban development as "development that improves the long-term social and ecological health of cities and towns." He sketches a 'sustainable' city's features: compact, efficient land use; less automobile use, yet better access; efficient resource use; less pollution and waste; the restoration of natural systems; good housing and living

environments; a healthy social ecology; a sustainable economy; community participation and involvement; and preservation of local culture and wisdom.

Because of political and governance structures in most jurisdictions, sustainable planning measures must be widely supported before they can affect institutions and regions. Actual implementation is often a complex compromise.

Changes to the planning process Strategic Urban Planning over past decades have witnessed the metamorphosis of the role of the urban planner in the planning process. More citizens calling for democratic planning & development processes have played a huge role in allowing the public to make important decisions as part of the planning process. Community organizers and social workers are now very involved in planning from the grassroots level. The term advocacy planning was coined by Paul Davidoff in his influential 1965 paper, "Advocacy and Pluralism in Planning" which acknowledged the political nature of planning and urged planners to acknowledge that their actions are not value-neutral and encouraged minority and underrepresented voices to be part of planning decisions.

Effective Planners

Nowadays, professionals are faced more difficult to acknowledge themselves, if they not equip themselves with the some extraordinary qualities than others. It same goes to planners nowadays, face difficulties challenge to equip themselves with broad range of technical skills, a deep level of commitment to environmental and social sustainability, and the ability to works collaboratively with others professional, communities and those with the power who make decision that affect us all.

Town planning is a broad area of work, which requires many different skills. In order to become an effective planner, they should equip themselves with as much possible skills. Some town planner may specialize, in a different skills, but in general task typically involve, researching and analyzing data, promoting environmental education and awareness towards planning issues and proposals, consulting with interest parties, presenting and attending planning appeals and publics enquiries, developing creative and original solutions to satisfy all parties, recalling data, facts and procedure accurately, designing layout and drafting design statements, assessing planning applications, enforcing and monitoring regulations as necessary. Thus, planners also need to know drafting policies, writing reports, dealing with the public and make themselves familiar with the technology system such ad CAD, GIS, SPSS and others to ease works and become an effective planners.

Thus, planner ought to have some interest in internet and computer skills, property investment and valuation, interest in the future protection of environment, concern for urban renewal and interest in improving the quality of live and environment. Rather than that,

planner must have personal qualities such as, how to handle and manage an organization, able to express idea orally and in written statement, broad perception, and interpersonal skill. Interpersonal skills are the life skills we use every day to communicate and interact with other people, individually and in groups.

Interpersonal skills include not only how we communicate with others, but also our confidence, and our ability to listen and understand. Problem solving, decision making and personal stress management are also considered interpersonal skills. Planners with strong interpersonal skills are usually more successful in both their professional and personal lives. They are perceived as more calm, confident and charismatic, qualities that are often endearing or appealing to others.

In planning field, planned need for cooperative working relationships across units and divisions was rarely acknowledged. In today's environment, we recognize the considerable advantages to be gained by working collaboratively across boundaries throughout the organization and even with external "partners". These advantages include, the ability to respond rapidly to the need for change, ability to meet customers' expectations for fast, reliable and convenient service, efficient use of everyone's resources, i.e., no one has to reinvent the wheel, more creative solutions to problems, shared and easily available information support for implementation of new initiatives, shared responsibility for success and failure and common dedication to the success of the whole enterprise. In a nut shell, planners should empowerment themselves and planning professionalism, to fulfill the future needs.

References

1. Taylor, Nigel (2007). Urban Planning Theory since 1945, London, Sage. 2. Wheeler, Stephen (1998). "Planning Sustainable and Livable Cities", Routledge; 3rd edition. 3. Forester John. "Planning in the Face of Conflict", 1987, ISBN 0-415-27173-8, Routledge, New York. 4. http://www.plannersnetwork.org/publications/2007_spring/angotti.htm 5. Ozawa, C.P., Seltzer, E.P.(1999). "Taking our bearings: Mapping a relationship among planning practice, theory and education". Journal of Planning Education and Research. 18: 257-266. 6. Susan Thompson, What is Planning? 7. Professor Malcon Grant.(1999). Planning As A Learned Profession. Royal Town Planning Institute,London.