1H5120 Planning Theory 7.5 credits

• Educational level

  Third cycle

• Academic level (A-D)

  D

• Subject area

• Grade scale

  G, D, U

At present this course is not scheduled to be offered.

Learning outcomes

Content

The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to planning theory. At the end of the course students will have knowledge about the basic concepts of planning as they are formulated in different academic disciplines. They will know the major theoretical contributions in economics, political science, futures studies, strategic corporate planning, and of course spatial planning. They will have knowledge about the main planning theory publications and have reflected over the trait of the contributions from various disciplines to contemporary planning issues at different spatial levels.

Course main content

Organization and Examination

The course consists of five seminars. In preparation for each of these the whole or parts of two books and/or journal issues will be studied. Participants are to write down reflections on the texts in conjunction with three to five questions related to the texts. The reflective texts should comprise between three to five pages with normal line spacing. The texts will contain reflections on the texts rather than reviews on the content of the texts. It is possible but not necessary to provide the reflections in relation to the topic of the thesis works.

The texts should be distributed to the course participants at least two days before the seminar event. At the seminar one person per question will be asked to provide an introduction. All participants should participate in the ensuing discussion. They should have studied the reflections of the other participants before the seminar. To pass this element of the course written text plus seminar participation is demanded. In case of absence from the seminar five questions need to be treated to pass this course element.

Simon Falck is the course assistant and coordinator of the course. The reflective texts should be sent to him for efficient distribution. He should also have information about participation in the different seminars. It is through him that the course literature should be distributed to the participants. Borrowing books from libraries has been an efficient way to organize the reading in earlier rounds of the course.

Eligibility

Applications and course fee

The course is compulsory for students in the doctoral program study track of planning and plan implementation. Other doctoral students are most welcome to participate. For students engaged in other doctoral programs within the School of Architecture and the Built Environment participation is free of charge. For students from other KTH schools, and from other universities, there is a nominal fee of 5000 SEK. It is presupposed that this fee is covered by the institutions to which these doctoral students belong.

Applications to the course should be submitted to Simon Falck no later than 1th of September.

Prerequisites

The course consists of five seminars. In preparation for each of these the whole or parts of two books and/or journal issues will be studied. Participants are to write down reflections on the texts in conjunction with three to five questions related to the texts. The reflective texts should comprise between three to five pages with normal line spacing. The texts will contain reflections on the texts rather than reviews on the content of the texts. It is possible but not necessary to provide the reflections in relation to the topic of the thesis works. The texts should be distributed to the course participants at least two days before the seminar event. At the seminar one person per question will be asked to provide anintroduction. All participants should participate in the ensuing discussion. They shouldhave studied the reflections of the other participants before the seminar. To pass thiselement of the course written text plus seminar participation is demanded. In case ofabsence from the seminar five questions need to be treated to pass this course element. Simon Falck is the course assistant and coordinator of the course. The reflective texts should be sent to him for efficient distribution. He should also have information about participation in the different seminars. It is through him that the course literature should be distributed to the participants. Borrowing books from libraries has been an efficient way to organize the reading in earlier rounds of the course. The detailed structure of the course is presented below

Literature

Westlund, H. (2006) Social Capital in the Knowledge Economy – Theory and Empirics, Springer Verlag (Chapter: 1-7, 11)

Gruber, J. (2005) Public Finance and Public Policy, Worth Publishers (student resources at the homepage)

Johansen, L. (1979) Lectures on Macroeconomic Planning, North Holland, (Chapter: 2.4, 2.5)

Flyvbjerg, B. (1998) Rationality and power – democracy in practice, University of Chicago Press

Archibugi, F. (2007) Planning Theory, Springer Verlag

Mintzberg, H (1994) The rise and fall of strategic planning. Prentice Hall, London

van der Heijden, K (1996) Scenarios: The art of strategic conversation. John Wiley, London

Sharpe, B, and van der Heijden, K. (2007) Scenarios for Success: Turning Insights in to Action, John Wiley, London

Putnam, R, Lionardi, R and Nanetti, R (1993) Making Democracy Work - Civic Traditions in Modern Italy, Princeton University Press

Putnam, R (2000) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Simon & Schuster, New York

Assorted international journals and book series relevant to the field of planning theory.

Federica Legnani and Paola Tessitore, 1998, Analysis of the Main European Planning Journals

Examination

Offered by

ABE/Urban and Regional Studies

Contact

Folke Snickars, Simon Falck

Examiner

Folke Snickars

Supplementary information

The course is given in English, although students are welcome to speak and write in Swedish.

If you want additional information about the course, please contact Folke Snickars or Simon Falck.

Version

Course plan valid from: Autumn 09.