Planning support: from systems to science

Abstract

The role of planning support systems (PSS) in planning practice is still quite restricted, despite explosive growth in the supply of PSS and increased demand from planning practice as a result of the growing complexity of planning tasks. Research in this area must become more focused if this unsatisfactory situation is to be overcome. This can be achieved by developing a coherent research agenda in which the constituting research elements work together in order to rectify the situation as it stands. This paper employs a structured methodology with the aim of realising the start of a PSS research agenda. A number of recommendations for future PSS research can be derived from this tentative agenda. The key recommendation calls for shifting the prime focus from PSS instruments (means) to their support role (goal). When this is achieved, a new and innovative field of study can be established: planning support science.