Role of Managers as Decision Maker

Planning and Architectural decisions which can save valuable time and resources

The future course of any planning or architectural project is shaped by decisions made at different stages of project by able managers. A manager should have strong organizational capabilities to manage the limited resources in most effective ways, excellent interpersonal skill sets like oratory command, active listening, backed by groomed personality, delegational capabilities, strong sense of intuition, superb management and leadership capacity which reflects in swiftness, smartness and precision of decisions made in the crucial moments. Managers should be capable of perceiving macro level issues which might emerge in course of project as well as should be capable of understanding and analysing minute details of project and process if required.

In planning and architecture every now and then macro level issues demands attention as well as swift and smart decision from managers. A wrong decision can be a toll on already limited and pressing time and resources while a sensible decision which emerges from the wisdom and experience of managers can save a lot of time and hassle.

Now, what is sensible decision and how can one arrive at a sensible strategic decision?  A team leader or manager is like a captain of any dynamic sport, who has to constantly change, modify and revive his or her strategy, negotiating twists and turns of this dynamics and unpredictability of the game, accommodating and absorbing changing situations, while keeping his or her focus on the end result i.e. winning the game.  In the similar way a manager or team leader has to constantly reinvent its strategies meeting the project needs, accommodating dynamism of project with the focus on timely completion of projects with effective utilisation of resources at hand.

By - Anoop Jha

Emerging Strategic Trends in Urban and Regional Planning

By - Anoop Jha

Proposed strategic planning interventions

Strategic research in the field of urban and regional planning is an interesting area of study. Formulising sound and sustainable strategies require thorough brainstorming by the planners, scholars, experts, academicians, business representatives, people’s representatives, Welfare organizations, focused professional groups and individuals. It’s high time that a fresh set of strategies should be prepared to tackle the exponentially growing urban and regional problems, like population bubble, shrinking resources, growing confusion chaos in cities etc. Let’s take a look at strategies which has emerging in recent part or can be the possible fresh approach towards better planning.

PROPOSED STRATEGIC PLANS

Cross sectoral learning to increase industry knowledge base,

Multidisciplinary approach for innovative approach, cost effective solutions and swift process,

Decentralization of activities for localised autonomy and efficiency,

Single point contact from public agency for hassle free and faster processing,

Bilateral and Multilateral ties for regional consensus and holistic development,

Environmentally sustainable efforts to curtail the negative externalities of project and boost the downstream benefits

Active Resource mobilization to unlock the untapped potential of the region, population and resources

Multidisciplinary approach towards Urban and regional planning

By - Anoop Jha

Planning is an inclusive profession

Planning is a versatile and rich field.. Planning in a broader sense includes making plan for day to day activities to city and country planning and even to strategic plans for cross boundary political and trade relationship. Existence of planning as a development tool, both physical and strategic, can be traced back to the dawn of early civilizations. Urban and regional planning is a niche in this wider portfolio of planning process which has evolved through time and nurtured from the strategic experiences of mankind throughout historical evolution, so planning as a profession includes virtually every aspect of life and experience, has tenacity to learn from other disciplines, other fields of profession and from different sectors. It plays a crucial role in creating holistic environment for masses.  

Question is what we can learn from other disciplines and experiences of others. There are not only innumerous experience to be shared and lessons to be learns from other disciplines but also a better strategy can emerge from the amalgamation of different sectoral experiences, called multidisciplinary planning approach.

Participatory Planning: Interoperability of stakeholders for sustainable planning

By - Anoop Jha

Interoperability to fast forward urban and regional planning process

In a democratic setting, urban and regional planning projects are implemented through participatory process and evolves  many stakeholders including planners, individuals, agencies, NGOs, authorities, states and political fraternity and to hence presents a complex challenge to bring all these stakeholders at the same platform and consensus, in the set period of time. Success of project depends on the “Interoperability” of these stakeholders, lesser the friction faster would be the job done.    

Interoperability is a functional aspect of planning during project lifecycle and its operation and maintenance period. It can be defined as an index of interaction of different agencies working together for implementing and operating a planning project. There can be different issues in interoperability like, interstate resource dispute, disagreement on resource allocation, conflict of interest, environmental concerns over negative externalities of project. There is a growing need for strategic intervention at different levels of planning process for a consensus on interoperability for sustainable planning. It’s a tool for cohesive planning process and the need of time.    

Geofencing : Emerging Management Trends in Urban and Regional planning

By- Anoop Jha

Exploring Virtual Technology for Physical Planning

Geofencing is a fascinating technology which virtually defines the domain of real world. They do not have to build a fortress to keep the physical domain of any scale and type safe like the old world, now it can be done with a virtual protective blanket. Domain can be anything from a home or yard or shop to an agricultural field, to a region.

Geofencing are satellite Global positioning system (GPS) based technology concept which demarcates the boundary of a given area and monitors any to and fro movement from and within this delineated boundary. Geofencing tracks dynamism within the static boundary and give alert to concerned authorities and individuals regarding any suspicious or unusual activity through different modes like alarm, sms etc. Geofencing can prove to be a very useful tool for security management, fleet tracking, dockyard operation, individual business owners, farmers, Construction sites, etc. and likely to be a regular feature of projects and properties in near future.