Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Department of Management, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, Vali Asr University, Rafsanjan, Iran.
2
Department of Political Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/jsc.2025.519236.1841
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
This study seeks to identify and categorize the factors shaping effective urban management in the Tehran metropolitan area. Its primary objective is to examine the interrelationships among these factors and to determine the key variables that drive improvements in urban management. Initially, the factors influencing effective urban management were identified through semi-structured interviews with 17 experts and practitioners in the field, selected via purposive and judgmental sampling. Subsequently, a comprehensive interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach was applied to classify the factors, and data analysis was conducted using MICMAC software. The findings reveal that “voluntary activities,” positioned at the fourth hierarchical level, constitute the cornerstone of the model. At the third level, “urban spatial justice” and “quality of civil society” exhibit a reciprocal relationship and exert influence on “outdated managerial practices,” “citizen satisfaction,” and “intervention by informal actors.” In contrast, the variables of “integrated management,” “urban future-building,” “citizen participation,” “informal relations,” and “inflation of urban regulations” exert no direct influence on other factors. The analysis highlights robust interconnections among the model’s components and underscores the significance of certain latent variables in shaping desirable urban management in Tehran. Variables such as “integrated management,” “urban future-building,” “citizen participation,” “informal relations,” “intra-urban spatial justice,” “quality of civil society,” “outdated managerial practices,” “inflation of urban regulations,” “citizen satisfaction,” and “intervention by informal actors” are interlinked in terms of both impact and effectiveness. In this sense, these variables demonstrate both strong influence and high dependency. Among them, “voluntary activities” emerges as a key independent variable with substantial impact on desirable urban management across the Tehran metropolis.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
A review of studies addressing both urban challenges faced by citizens and the management of urban affairs reveals that the current governance system lacks the authority to resolve its inherent problems, yet it retains the capacity and mechanisms to respond to emerging issues. Proposed solutions include decentralizing centralized authority, fostering public participation in urban management, enhancing managerial efficiency, and improving urban quality of life. If effectively implemented, these measures are expected to elevate the overall quality and effectiveness of urban governance. Realizing these objectives requires an urban management system capable of overseeing and directing the city’s entire spatial and functional domains, while coordinating all relevant institutions, stakeholders, and urban territories.
Methodology
This study adopts a qualitative research design, with the modeling component conducted through the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach. The research is applied in nature, and a snowball sampling technique was employed to identify relevant experts across different organizations. In total, 17 experts were identified and agreed to participate in the study.
Data were collected through two instruments: (1) a semi-structured Likert-scale questionnaire, designed to assess dimensions of desirable urban management in Tehran based on ISM constructs derived from the literature; and (2) an interpretive structural modeling questionnaire. The closed questionnaire, consisting of 11 items, aimed to evaluate and refine the concept of desirable urban management in Tehran by drawing on participants’ experiential knowledge alongside insights from the research literature.
Results and Discussion
The findings indicate that “voluntary activities,” positioned at the fourth hierarchical level, serve as the cornerstone of the model. Accordingly, the stratification of latent variables influencing desirable urban management in the Tehran metropolis begins with this factor and extends to the others. At the third level, “intra-urban spatial justice” and “quality of civil society,” which are closely interrelated, influence the factors situated at the second level.
The second level comprises “outdated managerial practices,” “citizen satisfaction,” and “intervention by informal actors,” which are interrelated and exert influence on the first-level factors. The first level includes “integrated management,” “urban future planning,” “citizen participation,” “informal relations,” and “inflation of urban regulations.” These variables are interconnected with one another but exert no direct influence on other factors independently.
The findings further reveal that no variable falls within the independent category (Group One), underscoring the strong interconnections among the model’s components. Similarly, no variable belongs to the dependent category (Group Two), suggesting the presence of more critical latent variables shaping desirable urban management in the Tehran metropolis. Variables such as “integrated management,” “urban future planning,” “citizen participation,” “informal relations,” “intra-urban spatial justice,” “quality of civil society,” “outdated managerial practices,” “inflation of urban regulations,” “citizen satisfaction,” and “intervention by informal actors” fall within the related variables category (Group Three) in terms of both influence and impact.
Conclusion
The MICMAC analysis reveals that none of the variables fall into either the autonomous or dependent categories, highlighting the strong interconnections among components and the inherent complexity of urban management. Integrated management refers to the coordination and synergy among diverse institutions and organizations involved in urban governance. This approach is particularly vital in metropolitan contexts, where multifaceted challenges are more pronounced.
Within an integrated management framework, all stakeholders, including government bodies, municipal authorities, the private sector, and civil society, must be actively engaged in both decision-making and project implementation. Such an approach reduces institutional overlap and conflict while enabling more efficient allocation of resources. The findings further suggest that integrated management enhances the quality of urban services and contributes to higher levels of citizen satisfaction. A coordinated system facilitates the timely identification of citizens’ needs and enables more effective responses. Ultimately, integrated management fosters the development of sustainable and resilient cities in which all stakeholders play an active role in shaping urban futures.
Funding
There is no funding support.
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.
Keywords
