Goal achievement relationship building, and incrementalism: The challenges of university-community partnerships

The University of Illinois at Chicago's Neighborhoods Initiative is used as a case study of how planning occurs in a situation of shared power; what the relationship is between che goals of participants and what actually gees done; and what the role of planners is in linking knowledge to action. The collaborative planning model is characterized by incrementalism, and relationship building is a key element. Relationship building and goal achievement are nor opposites; the achievement of goals requires some level of trust in a partnership. The relative emphasis on one or che other depends on the specific context in which planning, is done. The implications for planners and planning education are a greater emphasis on political and communicative skills in order to be effect ive in collaborative planning.