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  Management
  Alternatives Pty Ltd
  ABN 23 050 334 435



Contents | 1. Essence | 2. Types | 3. Models | 4. Jargon | 5. Checklists | 6. Resources


3. Planning models and examples

 

A. Strategic
    planning
B. Human
     services
B1 Arabic youth
B2.The Vietnamese
    Community
B3. The Spanish
     community
B4. Samoan new
     arrivals
B5. Macedonian
     artistic life
B6 Counselling for
   families and YP
C. Community
     development
C1. Elderly group
C2. Polish men
C3. Korean youth
C4. Elderly Chinese
D. Project plan

 

Planning models C - Community development

Community development projects are open-ended processes based on community development principles.

It is useful to imagine a community development process as:

  • starting in the community
  • evolving (thick line)
  • achieving specific project outcomes
  • that are usually not know in advance
  • impacting on the community
  • connecting the community.

The process is grounded in community development values (eg democratic and empowering).

The process is different from a more linear human service model.

 JPG PDF

To download a full size image suitable for an A4 overhead transparency - click on A4 PDF OHP

Community development takes place in the context of the vision, values and mission of the auspicing organisation (where an existing organisation is auspicing the project).


  A4 PDF OHP    JPG

Community development can also be conceptualised as a series of outcomes which are achieved, each one building on the next one, until the overall outcome is achieved. This is sometimes referred to as an outcomes hierarchy.

To achieve each of these outcomes a series of strategies/activities/steps are required.

These outcomes start from where people are at and build on each other to meet the needs of the people in the community.

In documenting community development it is useful to work in two columns - one of the outcomes to be achieved and one for the strategies/activities/steps that are taken to achieve the outcomes.

See the chart below. More complex diagrams showing multiple causes and multiple effects can also be developed in a similar way.


 A4 PDF OHP    JPG

Example of an outcomes hierarchy & strategies

Here is an example of an outcomes hierarchy with associated strategies:

Outcomes - what we are trying to achieve Strategies/activities/steps - what's keep us busy
Overall outcome: Elderly people linked with people in their community and more independent  
6. Elderly people continuing to connect with and support each other Regular group meetings continue and also includes other one off activities and events
5. Elderly people supporting each other Elderly people make a roster of who will ring whom to check in on each other
4. Elderly people making connections

A regular drop in group established (where people can be picked up and dropped home).

Home phone numbers and other contact details exchanged
3. Isolated elderly people motivated to make some connections People invited to a community event they are likely to enjoy - picked up and taken and dropped back home
2. Isolated elderly people identify their needs Volunteers visit these elderly people in their homes and discuss needs
1. Isolated elderly people identified Talking with existing service providers


The charts above are useful because they simplify and allow one to focus on the essence of a community development project.
In planning community development one also needs to identify the most significant elements of the real world complexity that will impact on the community development project.

Community development outcomes hierarchies examples

Here are four brief examples of community development outcomes hierarchies and their associated strategies/activities/steps.

1. An elderly group building community
2.Polish men to have better understanding of family and health issues
3. Korean young people integrate better into Australian society
4. Developing services for elderly Chinese