What is the first step in the Planning Process?

The first step in the Planning Process is to identify concerns. This foundational step is crucial because it allows individuals or groups to recognize and understand the specific issues or challenges they are facing. By identifying concerns, planners can gather relevant information and insights, which sets the stage for the subsequent steps in the Planning Process.

Understanding the concerns clarifies priorities and informs the objectives that need to be addressed. This deliberate analysis helps ensure that any plans made are directly relevant to the issues at hand, ultimately leading to more effective solutions.

Establishing concerns at the outset enables a focused approach as planners can then move on to setting goals that are aligned with those identified issues, creating a coherent and strategic framework for problem-solving.