Community Planning

Rosamie P. Cabural1/14/2012 NSTP 2 1

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Community Planning

Development in the community does not happen by chance. It is the result of deliberate and concerned efforts by denizens who see the need for planned changes. Unless the community residents are united in this endeavor, little or no progress can be seen.1/14/2012

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PLANNING: ITS MEANING AND

NATUREPlanning is a process of determining

what is to be done, when and where it should be

done, who should do it and how it should be done.

IN SHORT, IT IS DETERMINING THE OBJECTIVES AND HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THEM.

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Obviously, planning is futuristic or proactive, never retroactive.

Although a planner may look back to past events as he needs to have a sound bases for his plan, such action does not make planning retroactive.

Planning is basically, a looking-ahead process.1/14/2012

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As a function of the community worker or any manager/leader for that matter, planning is continuous.

Even while the plan is being implemented, the implementer keeps on planning/strategizing as he seeks to correct/improve certain aspects of the projects/activity-implementation.

In effect, is cyclical.1/14/2012

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Planning in effect is cyclical.

PLAN/REPLAN

MONITOR

IMPLEMENT THE PLAN

EVALUATE

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A method of doing something that is

worked out in advance.

To put the plan into

effect or

action.Check the

progress of the plan.

Examine and

judge the plan

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The Rationale of Planning

The following lines connote the necessity/advantage of planning

and the urge to have staunch determination in undertaking any

endeavor.

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“ The world steps asideFor the one who knows

WHERE HE IS GOING, WHY HE IS GOING

And HOW TO GET THERE.It is not the number of times

You have fallen in defeatBut the number of times

You have RISEN AFTER EACH FALL.If defeat won’t get you downThere is but one other way..”

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People who succeed in their chosen field of endeavor are, by and large, those who have a plan in life.

Be it on paper or simply in the mind of the individual, such plan spells out the difference between failure and success.

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People should undertake planning for three basic reasons:

1)Planning provides direction.2)Planning ensures economy of

time, effort and money.3)Planning reduces risks.

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Basically, planning is adhered to because it gives one a sense of direction.

If a person has a plan, he knows just where he is heading and rarely gets lost or confused in the rough-and-tumble of everyday life.

With a plan, the future is charted and it is just a matter of coping with unforeseen circumstances before one is able to realize what he wants to happen.

“Make things happen is certainly the motto of one who has gotten used to planning.

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Planning proves to be economical as it helps save time, effort and financial resources.

The more effective people are in planning, the more economical they become in terms of the three factors – time, effort and money.

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STEPS IN PLANNING

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1) Formulation/statement

of vision, mission, philosophy, goals and

objectives. A VISION is the picture of what we want

to realize…The primordial task which we “carry upon

our shoulders” is what we call our MISSION. This serves as the focus of all our activities in the organization.

PHILOSOPHY serves to unify the members and in most instances, rationalizes the actions and decisions they make for the organization.

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GOALS are broad statements of aims for the organization. They are long-range purposes and may not be attained within a year or so.

OBJECTIVES, on the other hand, are specific, immediate aims the attainment of which will redound to the fulfillment of the organizational goals.

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2) Scan the environment.

Two kinds of environment to be scanned:

1) Internal environment > existing conditions within the community/organization.

2) External environment > conditions outside of the community/organization.

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Four Important Planning Considerations should be identified:

1) Strengths2) Weaknesses3) Opportunities4) Threats

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3) Identify needs/problems

Environmental scanning inevitable results in the identification of needs/problems/constraints.

Identified needs should be prioritized on the bases of the degree of seriousness of the problem (or extent of need) availability of financial resources, and magnitude of benefits to be derived from the activity/project.

It should be borne in the mind that the community residents should be actively involved in this activity.

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4) Formulate alternative courses of action.

There is, definitely, a need to brainstorm on the suggested alternatives for certainly, each proponent would want to have his suggestion/solution be adopted.

At any rate, discussions on suggested solutions should focus on how workable and practical are such alternatives.

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5) Undertake a contingency planning.

A contingency plan is a substitute plan just in case the original plan fails.

Basically, it answers the question: “If this activity or strategy fails, what shall we do?

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6) Implement the plan.

It is to be noted that there are key personnel who are tasked to carry out activities or projects.

The planners should refer to their schedule of activities and should, as much as possible, implement the strategies formulated earlier.

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7) Monitor and evaluate the plan implementation.

In this stage, progress or project status reports should be submitted to the overall coordinator (manager) of the development project

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8) Replan, if necessary.

It is important that the planners go over the formulated goals/objectives as well as the identified needs/problems as they attempt to revise their plan.

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ACTION PLANNINGACTION-ORIENTED

SHORT-RANGEMEANT TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE

PROBLEMS OF THE LOCALITY.It highlights very specific activities

and strategies, hence, it is expected that outputs desired will be accomplished.

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Parts of Action Plan

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1) Objectives• These are the immediate aims

which the organization seeks to attain.

• These purposes should be aligned with the goals set in the comprehensive plan.

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2) Projects/Activities

• Likewise be supportive of the comprehensive plan for the barangay.

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3) Target Outputs

• Very specific aims expressed in quantitative terms.• With the targets properly

stated, it is easy to monitor and evaluate accomplishments.

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4) Strategies• It is important that strategies

be spelled out so that success in plan implementation can be realized.

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5) Funding Requirements and Sources

• Hardly can there be a plan which does not involve finances.

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6) Persons Involved/Responsible

• People involved in the performance of tasks/activities should be informed beforehand to ensure that these tasks are carried out later.

• With this part of the action plan, it is easy to pinpoint responsible/accountable people.

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7) Timetable• A plan should be time-bounded in

order to avoid waste of time. Time is an irreplaceable resource: therefore, it should be effectively managed.

• A Gantt Chart may be used.

“To choose time is to save time.” – Francis Bacon

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8) Remarks • Statements or explanations

which cannot be indicated elsewhere in the plan will be reflected.

References:• Cornista, Aleli and Tito Rocaberte. 2003.Civic Welfare Training Service

I.• Dela Cruz Sonia.2005. National Service Training Program (Literacy

Training Service 1)1/14/2012

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“Chance favors only

the prepared minds.”Louis Pasteur

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