How can you address conflicts between stakeholder groups in community development?

Identifying stake holders is a very important part of the process of urban planning. Lots of time the louder voices are heard and the tiny voices which may be more affected would be ignored.. therefore as an Urban Planner, it is extremely important to identify all stakeholders and not just the prominent ones. It's also very helpful to take local insights so that local problems and their impact on stakeholders is understood clearly.

Every urban development project has different groups of stake holders depending on their physical proximity to the project, their economic interest in the project and their aspirational expectations from the project. Some stake holders are directly impacted by the project, some indirectly. Some stakeholders belong to the next genration of users. Some stakeholders are from outside the urban areas such as the material suppliers,factory owners, miners etc. Some stakeholders are involved in the proect for financial investment or gains. Some stakeholders are involved in the proect because they physically live/use that site area. Being aware of the impact of the project on future generation is still a nascent field.

In my experience, identifying key stakeholders can be a good start and further analysis need to be done in addition to the stakeholder mapping, which should explicitly include power and relationship mapping and analysis to understand the different power that each stakeholder hold and gain more insight of the sphere of influence and how decision is made within those identified stakeholder. The entire map should reflect individuals, cultural and institutional actors as well.

The key components to resolving any conflict starts with recognition. All parties involved truly acknowledging the issue is a crucial step towards resolving it. Listen to all parties and communicate with one another to collect as much information as you can. Then work together to come up with possible solutions and/or compromises to use when negotiating the terms later on. Once all parties are satisfied it's time to dive in and implement the solution that was agreed upon. In the end the most important variable here is communication. Without it, nothing is resolved.

🌎 As working adults, we are expected to grow with experience. This is both a true and false statement because our experiences differ, and they do come with preconceived notions or prejudices. 💁 Self-awareness is key, as we observe the intrinsic relationships across different stakeholders who come from different backgrounds and come with different expectations. Everyone comes to the table wanting to take away something. That 'something' can be finite, and each wants more of it. 🌞 A successful stakeholder manager will need to maximise the outcome for each part. While the parts may not be equal, we serve to the best of our capabilities for a desirable win-win-win outcome.

Identifying different stakeholders is an integral part of being an Urban Planner as it helps to map out how the given place operates - which is crucial in addressing conflicts and achieving social welfare. This process also makes us realize and appreciate the rich diversity of various stakeholders and the interconnectivity between them.

Stakeholders are essentially those affected by or invested in policy decisions and changes. It’s crucial in urban planning to ensure no group is left out of the conversation and identifying the stakeholders is part of that process. In my experience, often minors and minorities are minimized or left out of the discussion, either for lack of understanding or ability to become physically involved. Nonetheless they are still an integral part of the community, and it’s the planners job to ensure that they are adequately represented in the project.

Ensuring the involvement of all key players who influence urban planning research is vital. In my view, leveraging a dynamic business model is instrumental in recognizing the diverse impacts each stakeholder brings to the central research. By ranking their influence, we navigate the process, guaranteeing a comprehensive consideration of all relevant perspectives.

💁 We grew up in different family contexts and cultural backgrounds. What is acceptable in a society, may look or sound like a spectacle in another. ✅ While respect and forbearance are sufficient at times, it is best for us to find commonality. For example and apparently, once upon a time, when Indian culture spread across Asia, the addressing of our father, 'appa' in the Indian language reached Korea, hence we often hear, 'appa' in Korean drama serials. 📑 Another example is the famous Shaolin temple in China, known for martial arts and Buddhism where the founder was actually an Indian known as Damo in China, Daruma in Japan. Much of the teachings were based on Sanskrit which is of Hindu origins, and translated into the local languages.

Following the first step of identifying the 'innovators' representing the different stakeholder groups, one also needs to create space for dialog. Although engaging different perspectives is never an either/or process, dialog is fundamentally different from deliberation/communication. Whereas deliberation aims to provide answers to complex problems, dialog aims to get a deeper understanding of the different perspectives in communities. In other words, by creating space for dialog it creates a mindset of listening with empathy before communication can follow.

Listening is very important and most stakeholders feel that their voices are not being heard enough. It is important to listen to all voices emphatically.

Empathy is the key to solving any problem. When we genuinely care about all stakeholders involved, we can make a positive difference. The crux lies in defining our stance on the subject. Methods play a pivotal role in gauging feedback, whether quantitatively or qualitatively. Given the diverse expertise levels of stakeholders, the methods for collecting feedback vary. Some offer insightful general perspectives, while others bring forth concrete data. It's imperative to align methods with the capabilities of each stakeholder.

We live in an era in which there are people from different generations (baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, Gen Z), therefore, it is important that they are all part of this communication process and that the right methods are being effectively deployed.

Engaging with stakeholders is integral to fostering positive community relationships. When conflicts arise, I approach them with open communication and a commitment to understanding diverse perspectives. I actively seek common ground, collaborating on solutions that align with community needs and expectations. By addressing conflicts transparently and inclusively, we can turn challenges into opportunities for stronger community engagement.

Communication is important with everything that we do. It is important that your message be clear and consistent. Utilizing multiple channels of communication can provide assurance that your information is delivered at a timely, inclusive manner. Using technical terms may be necessary depending on the project, so explaining those terms carefully is important. Making sure to be available to those who may need extra assistance to be successful in attending or becoming involved. With all the different types of ways to communicate now days, there is no reason everyone should have a method to have a voice.

🥖 Breaking bread over a cup of tea often works to bridge the work differences. Team-building workshops are often appealing to those who like or appreciate the proposed activities. Yet, some might be left out. 🍵 Sometimes, food and tea, also known as 'chai' in certain countries with rich cultural history can often bring people together as we share the common heritage to bridge the differences. 🌿 When we tap into our inner identities, we overcome many barriers that work may present. Let's tap into that intangible aspect to bring people together.

Why set up a grand feast if your friend is a picky eater? Similarly, in community development, involving stakeholders is not just about presenting a pre-packaged plan. It's the art of asking, learning, and adapting. Imagine planning an elaborate Bali beach vacation for a friend who despises water. In the community development journey, it's about conducting workshops, brainstorming sessions, and co-designing experiences to grasp stakeholders' needs and preferences. It's a collective effort, recognizing diversity, valuing contributions, and building relationships. After all, involving stakeholders isn't just a step; it's the heartbeat of meaningful community progress.

In colonial Sudan (my home) "Town Planning Law" perhaps copied from similar act of 1936 in UK. The Town Panning law was established and administered under 'the ministry of local government', which (in theory at least) was formed of democratically elected councils. This means that master planning and planning development were essentially voted by ellected representatives. note: The national govts after 1970s did not like democratic rule and democratic planning. Planning was then transfered to newly formed bearocratic ministry of planning in the early1970s.

Involving the stakeholders provides them with a sense of self-belonging, which is an important factor in developing a great urban place. The greater they are involved, the more they will be willing to give back to the community.

Once you've navigated the involvement of stakeholders, the next dance is negotiation and compromise. Picture it as orchestrating a symphony where every instrument plays a vital role. Establishing trust in the previous steps makes you the maestro who can harmonize diverse perspectives. Advising even against their initial wishes becomes a testament to your vision of the bigger picture. Remember, it's not a one-time gig; it's an ongoing relationship. Flexibility and compromise, not only from them but also from you, turn a small project into the overture of a long-term, impactful network.

There will be no one solution(s) that addresses everybody's needs and wants. Thus, we should always try to educate, negotiate and comprise different stakeholders. This is an ever-going process that will need to be frequently revised and incrementally altered at different stages - and that is the beauty of urban planning.

Now, the spotlight turns to evaluation, where your project transforms into an improvement course for everyone involved. It's a dance of introspection, where acknowledging mistakes becomes the first step toward collective growth. This phase isn't just about patting ourselves on the back for achievements; it's about embracing failures as stepping stones to success. In the realm of stakeholder relationships, this is the juncture where bonds deepen, and every misstep is an opportunity for strengthening connections.

In order to continue improving, it is absolutely crucial to keep track of the progress. There needs to be a start and an end date within which the evaluation will take place and to effectively do that, there also needs to be a set of criteria against which everything will be cross-referenced.

Too often the loudest voice steers the action. It is important to be assertive yet compromising in your role as the expert when dealing with conflict. It is important to remember your ideas are not what’s important, but to get all voices heard equally is. Use case history and other knowledge to imbed why something that may be controversial is still worth seeking a compromise for.

Acknowledge any deficits and brainstorm to build a flowsheet so the issue is clearly identified, and all voices are heard. No answer or interjection can be neglected but once the brainstorm is complete compartmentalize and draw meaningful conclusions for a result that works for everyone.