CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,

FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS

TPS 551:
PLANNING THEORY

ASSIGNMENT 2:
CHARACTERISTIC OF
THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES

PREPARED BY:
1) MUHAMMAD AZRUL ARIF BIN MOHD IZHAM (2021355021)
2) MUHAMAD AFIF NAJMI BIN MOHAMAD NASIR (2021329763)
3) MOHAMMAD ILHAM BIN HAMID (2021355073)
4) MUHAMMAD AIMAN BIN JAFRI
(2021355003)
GROUP:
AAP221 5A (GROUP 1)

SESSION
OCTOBER 2021 – FEBRUARY 2022

SUBMISSION DATE:
8 DECEMBER 2021

PREPARE FOR:
GS. DR. NOR HISHAM BIN MD SAMAN
 CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL
UNIVERSITI PLANNING,
TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENT PAGE

LIST OF FIGURE i

LIST OF TABLE i

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1-1

1.1 Blueprint Planning 1-1

1.2 Rational Comprehensive Planning 1-1

1.3 Mixed Scanning 1-2

1.4 Middle Range Planning 1-2

2.0 CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES 2-3

2.1 Blueprint Planning and Rational Comprehensive Planning 2-3

2.2 Mixed Scanning and Middle Range Planning 2-4

3.0 CONCLUSION 3-5

REFERENCES

ASSIGNMENT 2: CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES

 CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL
UNIVERSITI PLANNING,
TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
LIST OF FIGURE

FIGURE NO PAGE

Figure 1.1 :Martin Meyerson 2

LIST OF TABLE

TABLE NO. PAGE

Table 2.1 : The Characteristic Between Blueprint Planning and Rational 3

Comprehensive Planning

Table 2.2 :The Characteristic Between Mixed Scanning and Middle 4

Range Planning

i
ASSIGNMENT 2: CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES
 CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL
UNIVERSITI PLANNING,
TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

According to Thomas, M. J. (1979) stated that procedural planning theory is

concerned with the creation and implementation of plans. It is concerned with
the procedures and strategies used by planners in theory work, as well as the
operational modes of planning organizations. There are several theories in
procedural theory, among them are Blueprint Planning, Rational Comprehensive
Planning, Mixed Scanning Planning and Middle Range Planning.

1.1 Blueprint Planning

The blueprint approach to planning is defined by Faludi (1973) as an approach

whereby a planning agency operates a program though to attain its objectives
with certainty according to set objectives and that modification during
implementation is not anticipated. Korten (1980) described blueprint planning
as “the project, its identification, formulation, design, appraisal, selection,
organization, implementation, supervision, termination and evaluation that is
treated as the basic unit of development action”. It is based upon the above
attributes that the blueprint planning approach is criticized.

1.2 Rational Comprehensive Planning

Faludi (Faludi, 1983) regarded planning as a decision-making process aiming at

resolving some of the many issues that planners face. He reasoned that rational
planning entails evaluating all feasible actions in terms of their costs and
benefits, as well as ensuring that these considerations encompass alternate aims
and that planning responds malleably to changing conditions or scenarios. The
concept of rationality influenced policy analysis and planning in a big way.
Techniques and entire methodologies were based on certain assumptions
(Lawless, 1986).

1
ASSIGNMENT 2: CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES
 CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL
UNIVERSITI PLANNING,
TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS

1.3 Mixed Scanning Planning

According to Ibrahim, M. (2014) the mixed scanning model, as defined as

combining the rationalistic and incremental approaches by combining high order,
fundamental policy-making processes that are considered long term scanning,
and incremental processes that are related to fundamental decisions that are
considered short term scanning. The scanning process gives a technique for
evaluation, and the flexibility to scan multiple levels of conditions makes it a
viable tool for decision-making in various levels of environmental stability.

This approach is used to avoid overcommitment to precedent and past

experience. Furthermore, this approach is significantly more realistic than an
unrealistically detailed rational model. This method is also popular since it
describes the process that the planner really follows.

1.4 Middle Range Planning

Middle-range planning is the planning over a period of between about 10 years
and 25 years into the future which is intermediate between short-range planning
and long-range planning. It is also known as middle term planning or mid-term
planning (Oxford References). Middle-range planning is the idea by Martin
Meyerson in 1956 and his book is Building the Middle Range Bridge for
Comprehensive Planning (Refer to Figure 1.1).

Figure 1.1: Martin Meyerson

Sources: Google Images, 2007

2
ASSIGNMENT 2: CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES
 CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL
UNIVERSITI PLANNING,
TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS

2.0 CHARACTERISTIC OF PROCEDURAL THEORIES

Procedural theories have four types which are Blueprint Planning, Rational
Comprehensive Planning, Mid Scanning, and Middle Range Planning.

2.1 Different Between Blueprint Planning and Rational

Comprehensive Planning
There are three characteristics between Blueprint Planning and Rational
Comprehensive Planning (Refer to Table 2.1).

Table 2.1: The Characteristic Between Blueprint Planning and Rational

Comprehensive Planning
Blueprint Planning Rational Comprehensive Planning
a) Emphasis on careful and a) Process of understanding a problem
detailed pre-planning, and its by establishing and evaluating
conceptual and actual planning criteria, formulation of
separation of planning from alternatives and implementing them
implementation. and finally monitoring  the progress
of the chosen alternatives.

b) The inappropriateness of the b) Due to its tendency towards scientific

assumptions of the blueprint
approach that exhaustive
analysis will aid the
understanding of complex
problems, and that there will
be a direct relationship
between government policy,
action and outcomes.
method and its decision-making
process, its emphasis on technical
expertise and skills and its steadfast
belief that technology and social
science can be used to solve our
problems.

c) The goals of development are c) Goals are broad statements that we

understood as essentially
economic and unproblematic,
and the means of their
accomplishment essentially a
problem of technique.
intend to achieve. They are quite
general and abstract. are more
specific, measurable and clear as they
help to progress towards the goals.
They are the means to actually fulfil
the goals.

Sources: Gilbraith, 2014

3
ASSIGNMENT 2: CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES
 CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL
UNIVERSITI PLANNING,
TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS

2.2 Different Between Mixed Scanning and Middle Range Planning

There are many characteristics between mixed scanning and middle-range
planning theories on the procedural theories (Refer to Table 2.2).

Table 2.2: The Characteristics Between Mixed Scanning and Middle Range
Planning
Mid Scanning Middle Range Planning
a) Defined as combines the a) Middle-range planning is a
rationalistic and incremental planning process over a period
approaches by combining high of between 10 and 25 years that
order. add certain intermediate
function to traditional long and
short-range planning (Oxford
References & Andreas Faludi,
1973).

b) Key policy-making procedures b) Middle range planning is the

that are considered long-term
scanning, and incremental
processes that are related to
fundamental decisions that are
considered short-term scanning.
bridge between decisions about
a project and decisions on a
comprehensive long term plan
(Andreas Faludi, 1973).

c) Minimizing the specifics c) The idea of developing the

necessary in basic judgments, middle range planning by
mixed-scanning eliminates the Martin Meyerson in 1956 to
unrealistic features of rationalism address the shortcoming of
and aids in overcoming planning agencies.
incrementalism's conservative tilt
by considering longer-run options
(Etzioni, 1967).

d) As the term implies, mixed d) There are four additional

scanning entails two sets of
judgments. The first are broad,
fundamental decisions about the
organization's basic policy and
direction. The second are
incremental decisions that pave
the way for new, fundamental
judgments and that implement and
particularize them once they have
been made.
middle-range planning roles
and functions suggested by
Martin Meyerson which are
central intelligence function,
the pulse-taking function, the
policy clarification function, the
detailed development function
and the feedback review
function (Andreas Faludi,
1973).

Sources: Oxford References, Book of A Reader in Planning Theory (1973) & Etzioni (1967)

4
ASSIGNMENT 2: CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES
 CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL
UNIVERSITI PLANNING,
TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS

3.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, procedures are related to planning processes and techniques, and modes
of operation of planning agencies. It concerns the processes and techniques used by
planners in their work as well as the mode of operation of the planning agency. This
assignment is more focused on the characteristic of the procedural theories which are
between Blueprint Planning and Rational Comprehensive Planning and between Mixed
Scanning and Middle Range Planning. Therefore, we can able to acquire knowledge on
how the four procedural theories address the planning problem.

5
ASSIGNMENT 2: CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES
 CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL PLANNING,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
CENTRE OF STUDIES FOR TOWN & REGIONAL
UNIVERSITI PLANNING,
TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
FACULTY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA PERAK BRANCH,
SERI ISKANDAR CAMPUS

REFERENCES

‌Etzioni, A. (1967). Mixed Scanning: A “Third” Approach to Decision Making. Public

Administration Review, 27(5), 385–392. Retrieved 1967 from
https://doi.org/10.2307/973394

Ibrahim, M. (2014). Mixed Scanning Approach to Budgetary Decision Making: A

Review. Journal of Management & Public Policy, 6(1). Retrieved 2014 from
https://aurak.ac.ae/publications/Mixed-Scanning-Approach-to-Budgetary-Decision-Mak
ing-A-Review.pdf

Faludi, A. (1973). A Reader in Planning Theory. Oxford, New York, Toronto, Sydney,
Paris, and Frankfurt. Pergamon Press

Faludi, A., 1983. Critical Rationalism and Planning Methodology. Urban Studies, 20(3),
pp. 265-278

Gilbraith, M. (2014, August 11). “Blueprint” and “Process” Approach to Planning Rural
Development Initiatives, from Martin Gilbraith

Lawless, P., 1986. The Evolution of Spatial Policy. A Case Study of Inner-urban Policy
in the United Kingdom. Print book: English ed. London: Pion.

Thomas, M. J. (1979). The Procedural Planning Theory of A. Faludi. Planning Outlook,

22(2), 72–76. doi:10.1080/00320717908711582

Oxford References. Mid-Range Planning. Retrieved from

https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100156642

ASSIGNMENT 2: CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PROCEDURAL THEORIES