ABSTRACT
By way of capping this discussion, we should ask, “What does the relational planner-practitioner look like?” This profile applies to the professional planner and the citizen-volunteer planner alike. The principal defining characteristic of the effective contemporary practicing relational planner is one of a new mindset. This perspective is one of viewing the current and future world through the filter of multiple linkages and dynamic, often-blended non-linear relationships. The relational-planning mindset also sees the world from a futures perspective. In planning for the future, the relational planner relies on concepts and theory, especially tested bodies of theory for inventing effective and creative approaches to stakeholder-informed strategy formulation and plan development. The effective relational planning approach is based on new governance relationships that are multiple-actor in nature and representative of the major stakeholders of the region’s localities. It is the relational planner’s leadership responsibility to demonstrate relational planning behavior to and with the regional stakeholders, such that they too practice and routinize the new relational planning style. Over time, the behavioral objective is to embed relational planning increasingly into the way that planned development is carried out in the region. With focus and practice, this means that there should be an incremental shift from a dominance of old segmented perspectives and fragmented governance to a state of predominant relational integrated perspectives and highly coordinated policies and strategic interventions. An ideal end-state for relational planning practice would see a complete adoption of the relational principles, thinking and style that have been illustrated here in this book. A last element of the profile of the relational planner must include the reminder that even with full engagement and perfection of effective relational planning practice, these are not guarantees for success. The external economic dynamics and the locality’s position relative to other places are in continuous flux. As a result, one should expect ups and downs in all of the measures of
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