The 5P Model™ was created by The Langdon Group’s Dan Adams as a framework for multiagency collaboration. The basic premise of the 5P Model™ is that all agencies (local, state, and federal) have five levels of engagement.

Political. Elected officials. Examples: congressional, legislative, county commissioner, mayor, city council offices, etc.

Policy. Individuals that are usually appointed by the Political level. Policy are those that implement the vision of the people as directed by the Political level. Examples: regional administrators, state department directors, city managers, etc.

Program. Program managers that lead the various programs within an agency, department or division. Examples: public works directors, agency NEPA and 404 program managers, planning directors, etc.

Project. Employees assigned to specific projects or planning efforts that oversee the day-to-day projects for their specific organization. They work directly with representatives of other agencies on a regular basis for the specific project or planning effort. Examples: project managers and project staff.

Public. The public at large. Examples: general public, regional stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, neighborhoods, etc. (These stakeholders may have their own version of the 5P’s such as board of directors, executive director/president, members, etc.).

The “public” are those individuals that elected the Political level, thus, the 5P Model™ could also be seen as a circular model vs. a linear model.