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Planning > Structured Planning

What Makes a Good Ends/Means Synthesis?

General
As a process, Ends/Means Synthesis is defined in opposition to Means/Ends Analysis. Where the latter names more general ends for more specific means, the former attempts to find new means to fit ever more specific ends. Essentially, the Ends/Means Synthesis process is a structured form of brain storming. Its purpose is the synthesis of (1) existing ideas uncovered in the Action Analysis process with (2) modifications of other ideas seen in the new context of the Information Structure and (3) wholly new ideas created during the synthesis process itself to fill voids in the growing system concept.

Done well, an Ends/Means Synthesis will have at each succeeding level a thorough and insightful exposition of what is necessary to achieve the end under consideration. The means thus generated should, in sum, be a closed collection of actions that, if taken, would ensure achievement of the end.

The Form
Like the Means/Ends form, the Ends/Means form itself is not necessary to the process. The form is best used for segments of an Information Structure where the generality of the end is not so great that it might take more than three levels of ends/means to reach final concept ideas. Unlike the Means/Ends form, the number of levels of ends/means cannot be determined for certain in advance, so working at a relatively specific level is a good idea when using the form. Moreover, because of the indeterminate levels of ends/means, the process, even more than Means/Ends Analysis, can be used most effectively on a black or white board.

Style
Most effective Ends/Means Syntheses follow a few easily observed rules:

  • Use verb phrases to express means. The easiest form of expressing means is the verb phrase because it directly answers the question, "what do you have to do to achieve this end?"
  • Require all means to be ands. There is no place for ors in the this process because an "or" implies an option and sets up branching in the process that can quickly become impossible to manage (as options must be given all other characteristics already determined and carried through the process as additional complete solutions). Means for any end are deemed complete when no other means can be readily added to the set that exists.
  • End any segment of an ends/means trail when an idea has sufficient substance that it can be given a title and described as a concept.
  • Use noun phrase titles for final ideas. These ideas will be System Elements in the final Plan and need evocative titles that will characterize them and give them memorability. Use two or three words that bring out the essence of the idea. Titles should be interesting and memorable without being so playful that they lose seriousness-a difficult challenge.
 

The research project entitled "Meeting the Needs of Self-Represented Litigants" (Access to Justice)
was developed jointly by Chicago-Kent College of Law, the Institute of Design and the National Center for State Courts.

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