Process Circles

Process Circles provide pathways to guide practitioners through the process of making a significant impact upon a designated locale, such as a city, a town or an urban region. Linked to guidelines for each of the stages, a Process Circle provides a broad management overview that can be used for small or big projects. It can be used to guide a focussed and discrete project or to frame a general sustainability plan that includes many sub-projects.

Stages and Phases

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Process Circles are organized around an iterative process pathway with defined stages of activity: commitment, engagement, assessment, definition, implementation, measurement, and communication. Each of the process stages is divided into a series of phases, organized in a logical sequence of activities as part of the broader Circles of Social Life approach. The various phases of the pathway are linked to associated tools and methods. These tools are designed as part of an integrated, cross-referenced set that can be used as a comprehensive guide or as singular tools, each of which can be taken out of the toolbox and used with or without reference to the other tools.

STAGE PHASE ACTION TOOL
COMMIT Affirm commitment to making a difference
Establish management structure
Choose framing considerations Choose general issue
Choose general objectives
Choose spatial and temporal frame
Resource the project
ENGAGE

Consult key constituent groups and individuals
Entrust collaborators and form a critical reference group
Empower local communities Seek critical community feedback
Adjust chosen objectives
Accord recognition to partners
ASSESS Determine knowledge and resources Determine local knowledge Knowledge Profile Process
Determine strengths and weaknesses
Determine contested social themes Social Themes Process
Analyse data and documents Analyze existing existing public data
Analyze existing policy documents and research
Analyze existing indicators
Research social context Research community responses Social Life Questionnaire
Research urban context Urban Profile Process
Research individual responses Strategic interviews
Project outcomes Project future scenarios Scenarios Projection Process
Project program scenarios Intelligent Cities Simulator
DEFINE

Clarify definitions, forces and risks Clarify general issue and objective(s) ‘General Issue’ Clarification Process
Clarify materiality considerations
Clarify driving forces and risks
Identify critical issues and indicators Identify critical issues and objectives
Resolve tensions between objectives
Identify core indicators; choose targets ‘Critical Issue’ Identification Process
Refine project parameters
Review project plans
IMPLEMENT Authorize the plan
Enable project support
Liaise with constitutents
Revise the plan periodically
MEASURE Monitor indicators
Document project implementation
Reassess profiles and processes
Reassess Social Life Questionnaire, and evaluate changes
Reassess Urban Profile and evaluate changes
Reassess Social Themes Profile and evaluate changes
Reassess Knowledge Profile and evaluate changes
Reassess Strengths and Weakness Profile, evaluate changes
Reassess Social Themes Process and evaluate changes
Reassess Scenarios Planning Process and evaluate changes
Reassess Intelligent Cities Simulator and evaluate changes
Evaluate project
COMMUNICATE

Translate themes and learning
Publicize the process and outcomes of the project
Report to all constituents and relevant agencies
Advise communities and all levels of government


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