Introduction
Planning approaches for the health care programs are generally regarded to be the essence of the planning principles and strategic planning. The planning principles, which are described in the textbook are close to the principles of planning for business purposes and strategic planning for any sphere of human activity. This paper aims to regard the planning approach, and describe the ideal situation, which suits the best for the selected approach.
Planning Approach
First, before the description of the planning approaches the following statement by Thierauf (2006, p, 451) should be emphasized:
There are a variety of perspectives, models and approaches used in strategic planning. The way that a strategic plan is developed depends on the nature of the organization’s leadership, culture of the organization, complexity of the organization’s environment, size of the organization. Goals-based planning is probably the most common and starts with focus on the organization’s mission, goals to work toward the mission, strategies to achieve the goals, and action planning.
From this perspective the MAPP approach was selected for the discussion. Originally, this abbreviation stands for the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership. The fact is that, this planning technique is intended for the elaboration of the cooperative environment for the elaboration of the particular strategies and further implementation of the taken decisions within the frames of the given community or environment. From the point of view of the approaches, which are used for this planning technique, the ideal environment will be the cooperative community, which is created with the aim of mutually advantageous cooperation and the promotion of the particular ideas for making this cooperation more fruitful, advantageous and effective. (Strategic Planning in Environmental Regulation, 2007)
Originally, the planning and partnership processes are regarded to be incompatible, as every party of any agreements prefers planning in accordance with its interests and expectations, while cooperation presupposes the pursue of some single and common goal. Thus, the ideal situation for Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership is the situation when numerous participants do not have any personal goals, and their actions are directed precisely for the achievement of the common goal.
Description
The program which was selected for the analysis provides the opportunity for using the joint efforts for the achievement of the selected aims. Originally, this planning approach requires team playing, and acting within the frames of collective interests and purposes, while the personal interests may be directed only in the course of the common aims. In the light of this consideration, it should be stated that the original approach, which is generally regarded if MAPP technique is discussed, is related to the issues of cooperation and mutually advantageous planning, directed at the achievement of the common goals and pursues.
The fact is that, the original aim of MAPP planning approach is not only achieving of the goals, but creation of the necessary background for this achievement – fruitful cooperation, which is the basis of any achievement. (Issel, 2008)
Conclusion
Finally, it should be emphasized that MAPP technique, which was selected for the analysis, is the technique for cooperative planning, and entails lots of features of the strategic planning approach, which is used for the achievement of personal business interests. Thus, the technique was selected for its universality.
Reference List
Issel, L. M. (2008) “Health Program Planning and Evaluation: A Practical, Systematic Approach for Community” Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Strategic Planning in Environmental Regulation: A Policy Approach That Works. (2007). Environmental Law, 37(1), 246
Thierauf, R. J. (2006). A Problem-Finding Approach to Effective Corporate Planning. New York: Quorum Books.