Let’s Do Some Planning fulfills a practical need when working with groups. It’s one thing to be familiar with planning concepts, and it is another to be able to apply or utilize these concepts in actual practice.

This is a how-to book that provides step-by-step descriptions for a variety of applied planning methods and techniques. The descriptions are concise, include essential information to get started, and are practical platforms for the development of applied skills. One can use these skill sets in a variety of applications within communities and organizations of any size.

Working with groups can be challenging, so several chapters provide what is often a missing link in understanding process designs and moving from good ideas to making good ideas happen. Each chapter independently makes sense, and collectively they paint a portrait that captures the dynamic nature of several applied planning concepts.

The chapter on the technical audit additionally reduces many functional planning components into visual, bite-size pieces that make it easier to understand the complex interface existing between technical and interpersonal aspects of planning.

The final chapters include reflections on the art and science of planning and bring closure to an informative planning journey that involves working with groups to accomplish applied planning.

Garry Cooper