From Planning Support Systems to Mediated Planning Support: A Structured Dialogue to Overcome the Implementation Gap

Planning support systems (PSSs) are intended to facilitate relevant steps in planning processes; however, the academic evaluation of PSSs reveals many bottlenecks precluding a widespread use of these systems. A central weakness is the lack of communication between PSS developers (focusing on technical issues) and potential PSS users. Other academic fields such as knowledge management and technological innovation recognised similar bottlenecks years ago. On the basis of methods proposed in these fields, a new process architecture for the development of a PSS is proposed. Through a dialogue in which PSS developers and potential users discuss and use the PSS, existing tools, instruments, and models are refined and improved to be more useful to their potential users. The focus shifts away from the development of a technically more sophisticated support system, towards a process of PSS development which is intertwined with the planning process itself. This process architecture is called mediated planning support (MPS). We explore what can be learned from other academic domains and enquire about the applicability of these findings to PSS development. In Amsterdam the Department of Transport wanted to transform their transportation model into a land-use and transport PSS and their work illustrates how such a process architecture can link PSS developers and users in planning practice. We discuss the concepts behind MPS and use the case of Amsterdam to visualise its workings, lastly offering hypotheses on the method and suggestions for further research.

[1]  R. Klosterman.  Planning Support Systems: A New Perspective on Computer-Aided Planning , 1997 .

[2]  Michael Batty,et al.  Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design , 1996 .

[3]  Douglass B. Lee.  Retrospective on Large-Scale Urban Models , 1994 .

[4]  Brian M Deal,et al.  Ecological urban dynamics: the convergence of spatial modelling and sustainability , 2001 .

[5]  Ian D. Bishop,et al.  Planning support : Hardware and software in search of a system , 1998 .

[6]  George P. Richardson,et al.  Foreword: Group model building, art, and science , 1997 .

[7]  Guido Antonius Vonk,et al.  Improving Planning Support : The use of planning support systems for spatial planning , 2006 .

[8]  I. Nonaka,et al.  The Concept of “Ba”: Building a Foundation for Knowledge Creation , 1998 .

[9]  Stan C. M. Geertman,et al.  Planning support systems: an inventory of current practice , 2004, Comput. Environ. Urban Syst..

[10]  Subhrajit Guhathakurta,et al.  Urban Modeling and Contemporary Planning Theory: Is There a Common Ground? , 1999 .

[11]  Henk J. Scholten,et al.  Geographical information systems for urban and regional planning , 1990 .

[12]  George P. Richardson,et al.  Group model building: adding more science to the craft , 1997 .

[13]  R. J. Bogumil,et al.  The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action , 1985, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[14]  Douglass B. Lee.  Requiem for Large-Scale Models , 1973 .

[15]  Richard E. Klosterman,et al.  The What If? Collaborative Planning Support System , 1999 .

[16]  Jonathan Rosenhead,et al.  Soft Systems Methodology in Action , 1991 .

[17]  Rafael Ramirez,et al.  Action Learning: A Strategic Approach for Organizations Facing Turbulent Conditions , 1983 .

[18]  Chris J. L. Yewlett,et al.  The Electronic Oracle: Computer Models and Social Decisions , 1986 .

[19]  Richard K. Brail,et al.  Planning Support Systems Evolving: When the Rubber Hits the Road , 2006 .

[20]  Stephen Hansen.  Enhancing effective implementation and adoption of web information system applications based on adoption theories , 2006 .

[21]  Lewis D. Hopkins.  Planning support systems for cities and regions , 2011, Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci..

[22]  J. Aken.  Management Research as a Design Science: Articulating the Research Products of Mode 2 Knowledge Production in Management , 2005 .

[23]  J.A.M. Vennix,et al.  Group model building: what does the client think of it now? , 2000 .

[24]  Varkki George Pallathucheril,et al.  Simulating Regional Futures: The Land-use Evolution and impact Assessment Model (LEAM) , 2008 .

[25]  D. Kolb.  Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development , 1983 .

[26]  P. Waddell.  UrbanSim: Modeling Urban Development for Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Planning , 2002 .

[27]  L. Phillips,et al.  Faciliated Work Groups: Theory and Practice , 1993 .

[28]  Sushil S. Nifadkar,et al.  Great Minds in Management: The Process of Theory Development , 2007 .

[29]  P. Healey.  Urban Complexity and Spatial Strategies: Towards a Relational Planning for Our Times , 2006 .

[30]  H. Couclelis.  “Where has the Future Gone?” Rethinking the Role of Integrated Land-Use Models in Spatial Planning , 2005 .

[31]  Pieter M Schrijnen.  Training Professionals for Cross-Boundary Planning , 2005 .

[32]  Henk F. L. Ottens.  The Application of geographical information systems in urban and regional planning , 1990 .

[33]  Luca Bertolini,et al.  Developing land use and transport PSS: Meaningful information through a dialogue between modelers and planners , 2008 .

[34]  Jennifer Stapleton.  DSDM: A Framework for Business-Centered Development , 2003 .

[35]  Stan Geertman,et al.  Potentials for Planning Support: A Planning-Conceptual Approach , 2006 .

[36]  K. Gergen.  THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONIST MOVEMENT IN MODERN PSYCHOLOGY , 1985 .

[37]  Timothy J. Newby,et al.  Analogizing as an instructional strategy , 1988 .

[38]  M. Crossan.  The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation , 1996 .

[39]  I. Nonaka.  A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation , 1994 .

[40]  Michael Christie,et al.  The Practice of Making Strategy: A Step-by-Step Guide , 2006, Journal of Management & Organization.

[41]  John Stillwell,et al.  Planning Support Systems in Practice , 2003 .

[42]  Jac A. M. Vennix,et al.  On Evaluating the Performance of Problem Structuring Methods: An Attempt at Formulating a Conceptual Model , 2009 .

[43]  Marco te Brömmelstroet.  The Relevance of Research in Planning Support Systems: A Response to Janssen Et Al: , 2009 .

[44]  Paul Schot,et al.  Bottlenecks Blocking Widespread Usage of Planning Support Systems , 2005 .

[45]  Douglass B. Lee,et al.  Requiem for large-scale models , 1973, SIML.