Appropriation of Planning Support Systems in Regional Planning: The Role of Convening Constructs in the Implementation Gap

The appropriation of Planning Support Systems (PSS) in planning processes continues to face persistent bottlenecks, despite notable technological advances. This study used the Enhanced Adaptive Structuration Theory (EAST‑2) framework to examine how convening structures, namely social‑institutional, participant, and information systems structures, influence PSS appropriation in regional planning. Based on a qualitative case study of three county governments in coastal Kenya and a broader set of existing PSS and other information systems, the analysis found five appropriation pathways (single, dual, compensatory, reinforcing, and complex multi‑structure) through which convening structures condition appropriation. The findings point out that national power and mandates can condition appropriation through single social‑institutional pathways, while county and donor‑supported sectoral systems exhibit dual pathways where institutional requirements and dedicated participant capacity jointly sustain PSS use. Compensatory pathways emerge when regional systems and peer learning practices offset weak formal regional institutions. Other systems, such as county GIS Labs, follow complex pathways shaped by unreliable funding, limited geospatial expertise, data fragmentation, and unstable ICT infrastructure. These results conceptualise the PSS implementation gap as a wicked appropriation problem rather than a purely technical or user‑acceptance issue. The study calls for PSS design and implementation approaches that aim to strengthen existing convening structures, including regional data interoperability, technical analysis capacities, and decision‑support functions aligned with planning tasks, instead of relying on isolated technological solutions.