Planning: Possibilities not Certainties

Planning attempts to bring order to chaos. It also attempts to bring about hoped for outcomes. These are not certain to occur, especially the way and at the time we would wish them. That is the nature of life itself: vagaries unexpected, unplanned, and totally unpredictable.

So, the answer to this? Well, there are many possible answers. Which ones get used to build the plan are in play all the time. Will the desired outcome for our economy follow a conservative ideology? Or might it tend more toward liberal thought? Will social safety networks be engineered with an eye of the charitable or practical ones among us?

Such diversity of thought has been a mainstay of American history. And ethos, really. We are not all the same: we don’t think alike, feel alike or yearn alike. We have different values that give shape and urgency to all these things. Diversity alone is a conundrum that proves a barrier to planning.

But should it? Diversity after all is depth and breadth of ideas, skillsets, education, experience, and a host of other factors that expand what is possible. All based on diverse thinking. I am certain in the belief that diversity of thought is an asset, perhaps a uniquely American asset.

That can be argued among those with the time and languor available; for me, I prefer to worry toward an effective planning process that will serve us all and well. For example, here are the primary elements of a definition of anything future:

1.       Values we expound

2.       Quality of life we hope for

3.       Shared quality of life for the masses

4.       Our desire for peace in the world, and at home!

5.       The means of making valued outcomes happen

6.       The timing of such outcomes

7.       The methods and authority to empower the methods to do their work

8.       Measuring the outcomes to determine that planned possibilities has worked

9.       Maintenance of existing status quo because it matches our vision of desired outcomes

10.   Re-engineering the planning process to move beyond the status quo to acquire better, more valued outcomes not now present

The list of primary elements is longer than I thought it would be. But then, we have diverse thoughts, values, desired outcomes, status quo for each of us and for all of us taken together. This diversity is a good thing. We can see ourselves in the gathered thoughts, and we can see those of others at the same time. Comparing these things helps us understand what we are dealing with, what we must accommodate if our adopted process of planning is to work for us all.

Working through these thoughts is an education. It is refreshing. It is not a prescription of what we work toward; rather it is a directory of possibilities we can expect given the presence of various assets, resources, timing, and unexpected chance. Valuing differences is a requirement of logical thinking of adapting to a constantly changing scene. We must be flexible if we are to navigate the vagaries of life.

And so, we start, first defining our shared value. Then we move on to articulate what quality of life we think is the best and how will we share that among all of us. These are fundamental discussions and consensus points. I doubt we will agree on all things; but we do not have to. To move forward all we must do is have general agreement. Consensus.

The next step is to determine what methods and means we have available to make good things happen as we have defined them. Not everyone is up for this task; specialists are most likely needed. Observers are needed, too, to report on progress and if it looks like the results will mimic our hopes. Planning methods, record keeping, and other experts to advise us on specific limited topics along our journey. Will there be enough money available to pay the people involved to do this work for us? Will we continue to make such resources available for as long as it remains necessary?

Methodology includes authority and organizing power. Who has that authority? How do we keep tabs on that authority and measure it is used appropriately? What mechanisms must we add to the process to ensure that we have faith in the eventual outcomes? Much design is needed. And discussions with collaborative strength and consensus. This is not easy work. But it is necessary work.

I could go on with the above list, but I sense the need to define hopes and possibilities.

Let us begin that with tomorrow’s blog post.

November 10, 2021

 

 

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