Opening Access to Scenario Planning Tools - Knight Foundation ...

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Collaboration
Collaborative problem solving facilitates resolution
of interrelated issues that previously
seemed too complex for one organization to
resolve alone. An important aspect of collaboration
is inclusive and authentic dialogue
that augments individual and organizational
capacity to engage in collective problem
solving (Innes and Booher 2010).
Knowledge of the problem at hand and
the shared values and ideas of other stakeholders
increases the collective ability to
innovate and achieve solutions. Another
element of effective collaboration is the
provision of open access to information for
all stakeholders and a forum where engagement
and dialogue is open to all.
The types of organizations and individuals
that need to participate in this process
can be grouped into several categories, with
the recognition that some individuals may
identify with more than one group.
• Scenario planning and tool advocates:
Organizations and individuals interested
in furthering the use of scenario planning
and scenario planning tools through
outreach, funding, and other activities;
• Tool developers: Planning firms, universities,
nonprofit organizations, or software
developers who are writing, selling,
and supporting software for scenario
planning;
• Professional and citizen planners:
Government agencies, organizations,
and individuals using scenario planning
and scenario planning tools within
public planning processes; and
• Academic educators and researchers:
Faculty and researchers working, studying,
and conducting research to advance
scenario planning tools within a university,
private consulting firm, or nonprofit
organization.
Capacity Building
Scenario planning is a not an end in itself,
but rather a general method used within a
larger planning context to address community
or regional issues. The current capacity
of planning professionals to apply scenario
planning is often limited by their lack of
knowledge of the method and limited
access to the available tools. Scenario planning
continues to evolve as new techniques
are developed in public policy practice that
draw on research in fields beyond regional
and community planning, such as climate
change adaptation and water resource
management. A transfer of knowledge and
expertise from these and related fields is
needed to incorporate these new techniques
into community and regional planning and
to adapt the current generation of scenario
planning tools for future situations.
Significant resources, including time,
data, expertise, and funds, are also required
to use the scenario planning processes and
tools discussed in this report. The capacity
of organizations and individuals to use
scenario planning processes and tools is a
function of the knowledge of those involved
and the ability of the organization to commit
resources to the effort. Enhancing the
capacity of users, organizations, and tool
developers through an open environment
of information sharing and education
will accelerate and improve their use
over time.
Open Source Environment
The full potential for collaboration and
capacity building is not likely to be realized
in the same environment that gave rise to
existing scenario planning tools. Their development
over the last decade has been
in a closed environment, with each tool
carving out its own, often proprietary,
market. Interaction among users occurred
6 policy focus report Lincoln Institute of Land Policy