The Process of Interpretive Planning

Interpretive planning follows a process similar to many strategic planning frameworks. By mastering these processes, you can take what you learn here and apply it to management planning, organizational planning, and a variety of consulting projects.

Invest some time in learning this approach—it will serve you well.

At its core, interpretive planning revolves around what we’ll call the RAR cycle:
Research → Analysis → Recommendations

We use the RAR cycle to tackle a series of questions. Each question is explored through the cycle, leading to answers we can build on. The insights we gain often inform the next question, and the process repeats. If new discoveries lead us back to earlier questions, we revisit and refine our work. That’s the nature of iterative, discovery-based planning.

Here’s how it works in practice:

1. Start with a question.
2. Conduct Level 1 research. (Sometimes, this is enough.)
3. If needed, dive into Level 2 research.
4. Still not there? Go deeper with Level 3 research.
5. Perform analysis to make sense of what you’ve learned.
6. Develop recommendations.
7. Seek approval and sign-off.
8. Move on to the next question.

The questions that guide interpretive planning are:

1. Goals: What is our mission? What is happening in our world that affects our mission? And what will interpretation at this place aim to accomplish in the next few years to advance that mission?
2. Audiences: Who are the key audiences we need to focus on to meet those goals?
3. Stories and messages: What are the essential stories and messages that will connect those audiences to this place?
4. Experiences: What memorable, moving experiences can we create to foster those connections?
5. Logistics and resources: What logistical challenges do we face? What investments in time, money, expertise, and energy are needed to bring it all to life?

Interpretive planning is all about asking the right questions, digging into the details, and adapting as you go. It’s not a straight line—it’s a cycle of learning, adjusting, and moving forward.