The broader social network of community planning: A diagnostic tool for communities to assess their planning capacity

This research examined the relationship between social networks of a community and its planning capacity. Nine common patterns (traits) of effective planning efforts were identified and aligned with social network methods. This provided the framework from which to develop a tool determining the capacity of a community to implement planning efforts, regardless of which planning approach it is utilizing. Between 2007 and 2009, the diagnostic tool was administered through a case study. The case study employed a snowball survey and key informant interviews that explored informal and formal communication patterns of a community's capacity planning to do implementation and planning activity.;Based upon that research, a model was developed to formatively assess the capacity of any community to implement plans and planning activities. In doing so, it is hoped community leaders and planning professionals may more effectively understand the full communicative dynamics at work in their local planning efforts. In that way locals may be able to better engage, be empowered to plan in a more comprehensive manner, and potentially be more successful in resolving their communities' challenges. The diagnostic model tool is called the “Engaged Planning Communities Diagnostic Tool.”...