Strategic management for regional economic development and business sustainability : countries in transition

Purpose: The aim of this research paper is focusing on strategic management approach toward balanced regional economic development (RED) in transition countries. The specific aim of the research is to develop an strategic model for regional economic development in Kosovo that will positively impact and support the business environment as well impacting the overall development of the country through coordinated project management and synergy creation among the communities, local authorities and businesses. Design/Methodology/Approach: The article used a mixed-methodological approach including both qualitative and quantitative data collection and appraisal, which included desk review covering existing literature at national and international level, semi-structured interviews with key, group discussions, relevant reports and other related documents. Findings: Policies and strategies actually leave a gap at the regional level. Most of regions and municipalities lack the capacities to create an effective environment for private sector development and job creation for all communities. There is some dissatisfaction among stakeholders regarding the functioning of existing regional development structures and processes. Neither the Regional Development Agencies (RDA) nor central body recognized as Association of Regional Development Agencies (ARDA) have achieved a satisfactory level of cooperation among themselves, and with their key stakeholders. Practical Implications: The future approach to RED should be based on balanced distribution of responsibilities between the central and local government levels with clear roles and responsibilities. The central government enables the environment and designs the legal framework. A central liaison body facilitates coordination between the regions and municipalities together with regional development agencies who establish solid linkages with the private business sector to develop and implement interventions. Originality/Value: The research aims to establish the regional economic development model that will serve as one stop shop at regions supporting the business development and increasing employability in the country.peer-reviewe

Climate change and strategic low-carbon planning in African cities after COVID-19: inclusiveness or chaos?

Cities in sub-Saharan African countries are feeling the impact of climate change with an increase in climate refugees and they have to deal with more intense flooding, land degradation and erosion, droughts, and heatwaves affecting in particular the poor living in informal settlements. Strategies on how to adapt and move to more resilient cities are being designed. But the question is how this transition can be done while municipalities in sub-Saharan Africa are facing difficulties coping with demographic growth, budget scarcity, and poor governance. Most local authorities in sub-Saharan Africa have consistently failed to address the fundamental basic needs of communities, even before the current acute environmental crisis. This paper analyses the persistent urban planning bias preventing transition to sustainability, emerging alternative strategic options promoting resilience and inclusivity while moving toward low-carbon cities, and how the discourse on post-COVID cities is relevant to the context of urban Africa

Digital Tools to Foster Inclusiveness: Porto's System of Accessible Itineraries

The recognition, by public authorities, of the shared nature of urban places and the extent and variety of disabling conditions associated with the emergence of phenomena of social exclusion and a steadily ageing population has motivated the creation of new legislation and strategic tools under the umbrella of inclusive design and accessibility for all. This study aims to show how the use of a new interactive accessibility instrument-the System of Accessible Itineraries (SIA)-can help decision-makers, municipality services and citizens to develop pedestrian-friendly networks in their cities. An in loco analysis of the main features, weaknesses, and potential of public spaces was undertaken within a selected survey area in the city of Porto, with the aim of improving the inclusiveness of public spaces. The integration of several concerns and regulations, pertaining to inclusiveness in the design of public spaces, into an easy-to-understand summary specific to this territory constitutes an important first step towards changing the existing paradigm. Apart from the inherent advantages to citizens with reduced mobility, the SIA also has the ability to inform urban planners concerning areas in need of intervention, prioritizing the execution of corrective actions within the public space. Additionally, due to the morphological similarity of the consolidated urban fabric of most Portuguese and European cities, the adopted interactive framework also reveals a considerable potential for comprehensive replication in many city centres, reducing the physical barriers, in a more integrative land strategy

Systems integration capabilities in public organizations: a study in the transport sector

This paper assesses how strategic innovation management studies ap- plied in transport and mobility infrastructure projects can impact sustainable and economic growth in under-analysed local areas. To this objective, the system in- tegration theory has been used as theoretical lens. This framework has been ap- plied to analyse a case study in the Public sector, highlighting how systems inte- gration capabilities represent a new opportunities for smart transformation lo- cally. The enquiry has found system integration capabilities in the public sector and performance measurement in a long-term view as two main assumptions im- plying a real change. By putting together these conditions, the paper\u27s main con- tributions point to refining the different actor\u27s roles. The well-coordinated Stra- tegic, Technical-Tactic, and Operational levels are proposed as crucial toward any realistic smart locality evolution

Hub programme Groningen and Drenthe:state of hubs, governance, and future outlook

In this report, the governance of hubs in Groningen and Drenthe is studied, specifically focused on how the hub programme was initiated and how it is operated. Additionally, case studies of governance of hub programmes internationally (Bremen, Flanders and Southeast Scotland) are carried out. The lessons learned from the Groningen – Drenthe practice and the international cases provide policy considerations for further developments of the hub programme in Groningen and Drenthe

Gender and the City - a comparative analysis of how Malmö and Umeå approaches gender and intersectionality in urban planning

This thesis is a comparative case study about how the Swedish municipalities Malmö and Umeå address gender aspects in their comprehensive plans. It also discusses how these municipalities approach the situation of women with diverse ethnic backgrounds in their planning strategies. According to previous research, immigrant women often have different experiences of the city than other women. The theoretical framework consists of feminist planning theories, a section on participatory planning as well as an intersectional part followed by critique on traditional feminist theories. Results show that the two municipalities address quite similar aspects in their gender-sensitive planning approaches, however, how they address these issues differ. With regards to the intersectional framework, it is argued that the municipalities fail to recognize gender as a differentiated concept and thereby do not highlight the situation of women with various ethnic backgrounds in their comprehensive plans. According to theories and previous research, this is an important aspect to accomplish a truly democratic and gender-equal urban environment