Planning theory

Learning objectives

• Describe the rational-comprehensive model and the main critiques of it.
• Distinguish bounded rationality, satisficing, incrementalism, and mixed scanning, and name the theorist behind each.
• Distinguish theory of planning (process) from theory in planning (substance).
• Explain advocacy, equity, transactive, communicative, radical, and insurgent planning and how they changed the planner's role.
• Describe the "just city" and "wicked problems" and use them to analyze a planning situation.
• Explain how the growth machine and urban regime theories describe who holds power over local development.
• Recognize which theory an exam scenario is describing.

Key concepts

Planning theory asks two questions: How should planners make decisions? (process) and Whose interests should planning serve? (values). Most exam questions pair a theorist with a concept, or describe a planner's behavior and ask which theory it reflects.

Theory of planning and theory in planning

Andreas Faludi (Planning Theory, 1973) drew a distinction that still organizes the field. Procedural theory, or theory of planning, is about how planning decisions are made: the rational model, incrementalism, and communicative planning. Substantive theory, or theory in planning, is about the things being planned: how cities grow, why neighborhoods change, what makes a transit system work. The theories in this lesson are mostly procedural, with value positions attached; Patterns of human settlement covers substantive theory.

13 more sections follow in the full lesson.