The Evolution of Sustainable Urban Development: A Management Perspective

The growth of urban areas and the delegation of additional tasks and obligations to municipal authorities, along with the pursuit of addressing significant social, economic, and physical challenges that impact the well-being of citizens, necessitate effective city management. The urban management system is a complex system that consists of various interconnected factors. In order to effectively modify the goals of this system, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of its elements and their relationships [1]. The city administration refers to the governmental department responsible for managing city affairs. Urban areas are ubiquitous across the globe, populated by both cities and townspeople. The primary and innovative entity directly accountable for city management is the municipal organization. The municipality is paramount in the country‘s administrative organizations, as it is the most crucial element in city management. Today, it is imperative to thoroughly reassess urban management in Iranian cities, given its current shortcomings, and develop a suitable model to enhance the quality of life for city residents. The field of city management has undergone a complete transformation due to the progress made in the field of management science. City councils are responsible for ensuring moderation in urban living conditions. They are a select group of individuals from various social classes within the city who are responsible for considering the well- being of the population, their requirements, and the progress of the city. The city council members convene alongside one another, serving as representatives of distinct constituencies, with the aim of safeguarding and advancing the city‘s values and interests while also overseeing municipal governance. The responsibility of correctly discerning what is beneficial and detrimental for the city, its inhabitants, and its future lies with the municipality and the elected officials of the city council. Mayors should possess ample and specialized expertise in urban matters and the local population, along with proficiency in city administration methods. In this scenario, it is imperative that the mayors and municipalities adhere to the comprehensive city plans and prioritize the long-term development of the city. Urban development plans delineate the prospective framework of cities. Each action occurring within the city has long- lasting consequences that endure for years, decades, and even centuries. Hence, irrespective of the chosen decision, constructed infrastructure, promoted culture, and adopted form and identity, they both reject and embrace the future for the city and its inhabitants. It is of utmost significance. As per Louis Mumford, the contemporary concept of city management entails the responsibility of safeguarding the well-being and existence of the city‘s inhabitants [2].

The present research falls under the category of analytical studies, employing the analytical-descriptive method. The fundamental approach for gathering information and data is through the utilization of documentary and library methods. The initial section focuses on the assessment of the city administration, while the subsequent section examines the development in accordance with international agreements. The current research findings can assist city managers in enhancing urban development and augmenting community satisfaction.

The notion of urban management gained recognition in 1976 when it was introduced, alongside other concepts like urban development and the initiative for a healthy city, into the agenda of a United Nations development program. A municipal administration program was established. Urban management refers to the organizational structure that oversees the development of a city. It encompasses policies, programs, plans, and actions aimed at ensuring that population growth aligns with the availability of essential city infrastructure, particularly housing and employment opportunities. Within the context of this definition of urban management efficiency, there exists a distinct and immediate correlation with present factors such as political stability, social cohesion, and integration, economic prosperity, and harmonious cultural dynamics, as well as other factors such as the competence and expertise, motivation, and knowledge possessed by policymakers and decision-makers. Additionally, there are individuals who utilize these policies and programs. Hence, the success or failure of the city administration is heavily influenced by its organizational characteristics, as well as the executive role of the government and public sector within it. The main goal of city management is to create a livable environment for all citizens, along with social justice, economic efficiency, and environmental protection. Based on this, in the current conditions, city management or „urban management“ is proposed and emphasized. Urban management, minimal use of non-renewable resources, progress in the use of renewable resources, capacities to absorb excess materials at the global and local levels, control and leadership of how to meet basic needs. Include humans. In general, city policies should be ecological, economic, social, and technical. Public administration refers to all areas of city activity and also to all citizens and their presence in the city administration. In other words, it takes shape in time and shows its efficiency in officially recognizing the participation and intervention of the people in a real and legal way [3]. The goal of urban management is to ensure that the system components are managed in such a way as to enable the daily operations of a city, and this will facilitate and encourage all types of economic activities and residents. To meet your basic needs in housing, it enables access to facilities, services, and income generation opportunities. The term city management has progressed to a richer and newer meaning. This term does not only mean systems for control but also a set of behavioral relationships, a process through which countless activities of residents interact with each other and with the city government [4].

The notion of urban management gained recognition in 1976 when it was introduced, alongside other concepts like urban development and the initiative for a healthy city, into the agenda of a United Nations development program. A municipal administration program was established. Urban management refers to the organizational structure that oversees the development of a city. It encompasses policies, programs, plans, and actions aimed at ensuring that population growth aligns with the availability of essential city infrastructure, particularly housing and employment opportunities. Within the context of this definition of urban management efficiency, there exists a distinct and immediate correlation with present factors such as political stability, social cohesion and integration, economic prosperity, and harmonious cultural dynamics, as well as other factors such as the competence and expertise, motivation, and knowledge possessed by policymakers and decision-makers. Additionally, there are individuals who utilize these policies and programs. Hence, the success or failure of the city administration is heavily influenced by its organizational characteristics, as well as the executive role of the government and public sector within it. The history of the science of urban management can be traced back to the origins of cities, where there was a need to establish principles, regulations, and laws to govern the biological and psychological-social aspects of citizens‘ lives. Yet, the degree of responsiveness and the capacity to address urban issues are contingent upon the level of ingenuity and effectiveness exhibited by city [5]. Stern states in the publication of Cities that there are no general principles for understanding city management, and city management has different meanings according to the tastes and perceptions of people and also the socio-political requirements of different times. It is different. [3] It is believed that today the world community has come to the conclusion that the main problem of urban management is not the lack of financial resources with modern technology or skilled manpower. But most of all, the main problem is in the management of these factors. Good management, without changing the existing resources and opportunities, by changing the perspective of city management, creates a process where all the available resources and resources of society are placed in the service of public interests, and development is ongoing. It fell [3,6] believes that the breakdown and analysis of the challenges of urban management show the diversity in urban management, the number of parallel activities between organizations, waste of energy, and national capital, regardless of the time factor. In the confrontation of citizens and applicants with the organizations involved in the development of city management, the activities should be carried out at both the national and local levels in order to integrate city management. This will be done with the focus of strengthening the city‘s lawmaking and supervisory institutions, i.e., the city council and the municipality.

Griffin, in his article titled „Principles of People‘s Governance and Urban Management,“ which is a military translation, states that the cities of Heer are at the first level of competition, have a transparent structure and benefit from good management and governance. A city with good management is one that is representative and inclusive of all groups in society, has accountability, correctness, and transparency in the actions of the government to reach common goals, and has high capacities for the local government. It is in fulfillment of public responsibilities. Davey [7,8] believes that cities have always been managed; despite this fact, the consideration of urban management in development studies has given it a special place in recent decades. This approach has been widely used in the developing world. Especially with the establishment of the city management program in 1986 and with the cooperation of the World Bank, the development program of the United Nations has attracted official and international support. A city is a set of human and physical activities, and for this reason, it is necessary to make better use of the set of bankruptcies and to prevent the wastage of forces there. Using scientific management and the latest findings on the best ways to deal with human and environmental resources, we have reached the ground. In the usual way, municipalities, or „city management“ in the world, are formed from two parts with negligible differences [2].
a) The councils or associations of the city, which act as a legislative or law-making body and oversee the operation of the municipality, are often elected by the people.
b) The executive body of the municipality is in charge of implementing the resolutions of the city councils or associations as well as other duties that are the responsibility of the municipality according to the law. The mayor and the Islamic city council are the two main pillars of city management in Iran.
c) Apart from these two, whose main and legal duty is policy-making, planning, and distribution of city affairs, there are other institutions that operate at the national, regional, and local levels, and their duties and functions are based on what has to do with the city and the city administration, and necessarily at the time of decision- making. Planning for the city and even the implementation of plans and programs should pay attention to the plans and scope of these institutions.

Difficulties in the administration of urban areas in Iran

In numerous countries, including Iran, municipalities have a restricted and specialized role in „comprehensive urban management,“ resulting in a significant distance between city administration and the government. The city is home to several elected representatives who serve the people. City councils lack the ability to elevate municipalities to the standard of comprehensive city management. The city administration lacks the capacity or is prohibited from overseeing the economic, social, cultural, and security aspects of the city‘s life cycles. In Iran, the city management system and municipality have relinquished their responsibility for urban issues. Nowadays, municipalities are no longer regarded as service institutions, but rather as social institutions. Indeed, they do. The underlying reasons for this can be found in the factors outlined below: The absence of autonomy in macro-level management and reliance on the central government. The issues can be summarized as follows: a centralized administrative system, a top-down planning and management system, a lack of precision in targeting, planning, and implementation, and a lack of a clear reference for coordination and integration in policy-making. Indeed, there is a notable absence of dedication to legal enforcement at the regional and local levels, particularly within urban areas. It is necessary and required by law to have coordination between executive agencies. The city has a wide range of duties, but it lacks the use of advanced technology in spatial planning and the creation of urban information databases. Additionally, there is a lack of attention to the distribution of resources for integrated city management, resulting in parallel work and a lack of coordination in the administration and control of the city‘s structure. The text mentions the urban body and the destruction of public capital [5,6]. Therefore, nowadays, the main lever in the success of city management should be focused on „integrated urban management“ as a means to achieve „urban development.“. The city administration spends a major part of its time, capital, possibilities, and logistical capacity dealing with these challenges, which in some cases are caused beyond the level of the city, city managers, and decision-makers. The ability of the city administration to face these challenges is becoming weaker and more worn-out day by day, and this process has intensified with the reduction of income sources and the increase in the variety, number, and abundance of demands mainly on the citizens. If this continues, the thin body of the city administration will be confused and inefficient. One of the major challenges facing urban management in Iranian cities, especially large cities, can be mentioned below [9].
a) Expand the duties transferred to the city administration and provide services to the people.
b) Weaknesses and structural deficiencies of the administrative, financial, and technical organizations of the city management.
c) Lack of skilled, specialized, and committed personnel in the city management system group.
d) An explosive increase in the country‘s urban population. e) heterogeneous and inhomogeneous structures of the urban population.
f) Weakness of the city-dwelling culture of newly arrived immigrants and their low sense of belonging to the destination city.
g) Incomplete information and lack of citizens‘ familiarity with their rights and duties.
h) Interference of various governmental institutions and organizations in the city management and doing parallel affairs with the city management without respecting the standards, laws, and regulations.
i) The rapid increase in quantity and quality of the demands and needs of the urban population.
j) reductions in income and sources of income for the city administration.
k) Poor housing, slums, and unregulated residential areas in cities and their multiple consequences on the management and process of urban life.

The word „development“ means to come out of the wrappings, that is, to leave the traditional society for the modern one. The historical background of the word „development“ goes back to the years after the Roman World War. In the beginning, development was defined according to economic growth: the rapid growth of real per capita production along with the advances in the technological, economic, and social characteristics of society [10]. The term development was used for the first time in the book „Growth h Limits, but its origins are attributed to the 1987 report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. This report emphasized environmental issues in the process of economic development [5,6]. Currently, numerous countries worldwide prioritize the advancement of agriculture. Over time, the concept has evolved to encompass more than just the environmental aspect or the examination of developmental initiatives. It now encompasses a multidimensional process of transformation that includes economic, social, and environmental dimensions. To achieve development and continuity, it is essential to implement long-term policies and enact institutional reforms across all sectors. It promotes the advancement, elevation, and progress of human societies through a dynamic and ever-changing process. Development is not confined to long-term activities but rather encompasses a series of actions and activities that occur in the short, medium, and long term, with a specific focus. Put simply, the advancement of agriculture serves as both a definitive objective and a means to gauge the growth and advancement of a nation. Mesira attempted to refine the meaning of the term „development“ by building upon the definition established by the Bruntland Commission. According to him, the notion of development differs from the general understanding of development due to the following reasons: It is temporarily unavailable. It is founded on the principles of equilibrium and fairness. It is regarded as a harmonious and cohesive approach. It has a common goal, but it can be achieved in different ways. It does not consider nature only as a source for development; it considers it the earthly origin of the survival and development of the human species. It is essentially a partnership. Urban development means the conditions in which today‘s and tomorrow‘s citizens can live in complete peace and safety and enjoy a long and productive life while ensuring good health. In fact, urban sprawl is a process that leads to the formation of urban sprawl. In this regard, the United Nations Urban Cities Program defines a city as follows: a city is a city whose locations and achievements are in various dimensions of economic, physical, and environmental development over a long period of time. And have it. Such a city has a wealth of environmental resources, and any development that takes place is only allowed to use the resources at their efficiency level. One city creates a security cover for the residents against natural hazards. The risks that have this potential to face the success process of the city with problems. The World Commission on Environment and Development provides the following necessary principles and strategies for a city:
a) Enhancing economic and social prospects in a manner that encompasses urban inhabitants
b) Diminishment of energy‘s role in urban expansion
c) A slight decrease in the utilization of water, land, and other resources necessary for urban expansion.
d) Reducing the quantity of waste and maximizing the recycling of generated waste.
e) Developing a robust management system capable of attaining economic, social, and environmental objectives.
f) Advancing urban technology to achieve development objectives
g) Enhancing the resilience of diverse urban regions to mitigate or address economic, social, and environmental risks and objectives arising from natural or anthropogenic factors.

Chogill [11] outlines four criteria for formulating city policies in relation to Shahrfar:

The initial criterion pertains to ecological aspects. Chogill asserts that ecological development is essential for achieving other standards within the framework of this standard and in relation to urban development policies. The second criterion pertains to economic development. The third criterion entails the imperative of integrating urban policy with social development. The fourth criterion pertains to the appropriateness and logical relevance of technology‘s development, methods, and utilization in various situations.

From Peterhall‘s point of view, Fhri Shahri requires the following:
a) The existence of an urban economy with jobs and wealth
b) Urban solidarity and cohesion
c) The urban shelter has suitable housing that can be provided for everyone.
d) The urban environment has sustainable ecosystems
e) Access to the urban environment with resources that preserve social mobility capabilities.
f) The life of an urban man in a living city
g) The philanthropy of the urban population creates the empowerment of the rights and rank of citizenship [12].

Urban development strategy

The city government adopts a conventional approach to the governance and management of urban affairs. It places greater emphasis on the interactions between the central government, municipalities, and official and governmental organizations. It particularly highlights the hierarchical relationships between these entities. The presence of numerous active and efficient forces in urban life at various local, national, and regional levels, along with the need for their integration and coordination within a framework centered on regional democracy and judicial justice, can be seen as the primary justification for the establishment of a governance model. Metropolis and its substitute in lieu of the municipal administration. A comprehensive model that promotes urban development and human-centered urban development by fostering collaboration and participation among all functional entities and geographical levels, emphasizing integration over division and embracing diversity [13]. The strategy of urban development is focused on and emphasizes the process of change, strengthening economic dynamism, and using opportunities. CDS emphasizes the empowerment of stakeholders and development partners to manage the development of the city. CDS sets its starting point on a number of key issues in the city. But this focus should be expanded from specific issues to a wide range of issues [14]. An urban development strategy encompasses a forward-thinking and evidence-based plan that seeks to enhance urban governance and management while also fostering increased investment in urban development. However, the success of this program is contingent upon the timing and trajectory of urban development in cities worldwide. One of the fundamental prerequisites for CDS is the dynamic synchronization of all stakeholders through a participatory procedure.

The formulation of a CDS program for a municipality entails five distinct stages, which encompass:
Preparation: Identification of partners, key stakeholders, and drivers of change; the process of management systems; goals and work plans.
Analysis: gathering basic information, analyzing strengths and weaknesses, and creating a consensus around a common understanding of the city‘s problems and priorities.
Strategy Formulation: Defining a vision and mission, formulating and evaluating options.
Implementation: execution and implementation of sample projects; mobilization of resources through stakeholders and development partners; agreed investment plan. Consultation: All of the above-mentioned four stages include a continuous participation process by holding group consultation meetings in order to obtain an official political and social commitment.

Urban development is based on the following two basic approaches:
a) In order to achieve the mentioned features of the city, the development of the city has a defined basic goal that directs the programs and activities to achieve these features.
b) Urban development has a fundamental contradiction and opposition to any spread of pollution and environmental damage caused by humans‘ disruptive activities at any scale.

These two approaches highlight that urban development aims to create a city that fulfills the fundamental requirements of humans and is a functional environment for both current and future generations. The growth of the urban population necessitates the attainment of the city‘s qualitative objectives, which rely on establishing conditions of fairness and parity, encompassing equality within generations and nations, equality between countries, and, notably, equality across generations. Current and forthcoming tuberculosis. Additionally, it is crucial to exercise caution when utilizing the reserves and natural resources of the city and its environs to ensure that their consumption and utilization do not surpass the limits of their production capacity. Within this framework, the three-dimensional sphere of development encompasses the environmental, economic, and social aspects. The specific goals of each sphere are to achieve a harmonious cognitive ecosystem, economic rationality, and social equilibrium, respectively.
a) Urban sprawl and urban development are hindered by the following reasons. The existence of a city economy creates work and wealth in the city. Urban solidarity and cohesion.
b) a city shelter that provides suitable and affordable housing for everyone.
c) Congested urban environments create sustainable ecosystems.
d) access to the city center, which leads to the preservation, increase, and strengthening of social mobility capabilities.
e) Urban life leads to a lively, dynamic, and lively city.
f) The population of the city is responsible for empowering the rights and costs of citizenship.
g) appropriate governance with people‘s participation in decision-making.

In recent decades, there have been significant transformations in the social, economic, and political connections within urban areas. Presently, megacities have experienced exponential growth, leading to a corresponding escalation in their challenges and concerns. The indiscriminate application of standardized development models without taking into account the unique characteristics of the region has resulted in the destabilization of urban and suburban areas. Integrated city management is a strategy that city managers can employ to achieve urban development. Integrated city management involves the development, implementation, coordination, and assessment of strategies that are created by city authorities. These strategies consider the objectives of the private sector and the interests of citizens within the framework of government policy, which is established at the highest level of government to promote economic development. According to Barakpour [15] effective coordination among relevant organizations is a key factor in the success of city administration. The solution lies in implementing integrated management through effective coordination among the organizations involved. It is conducive to enhancing urban governance. An emerging urban center. It is advisable to include the following items:
a) Wishing for a prosperous economy.
b) The urban society should strive for inclusivity, meaning it should foster a sense of unity and cohesion among its members.
c) The ideal design should include a comprehensive urban shelter that enables people to construct a well-developed city.
d) To safeguard the urban environment through the conservation of resilient ecosystems.

The city‘s advancement should not be confined solely to the scope of municipal obligations or city governance. The involvement of individuals is essential. Participation refers to the capacity to exert influence over decisions and for individuals to have a stake in exercising authority. Participation entails an engaged, deliberate, and accountable dedication. Participatory urban management involves granting citizens the authority to participate actively in the decision-making process of urban management. The involvement of individuals and the implementation of innovative management techniques are essential for urban management and development. The three fundamental prerequisites for citizens‘ engagement encompass the willingness of managers to accept it, the enthusiasm of citizens to participate, and the existence of legal frameworks that enable such involvement. The city council and the mayor, who hold the highest positions in the city‘s executive hierarchy, are the primary components of the city‘s management framework [16]. At the local level, municipalities are primarily responsible for the planning and management of cities. Their objective is to enhance the quality of the urban environment by addressing the needs of the residents. Within the city administration, alongside the municipalities, there are many entities and enterprises, including water and energy providers, communication companies, cultural organizations, grassroots associations, local and city councils, trade unions, health organizations, environmental groups, and governorates [17-20].

It is possible that in a city, the number of organizations involved in city management may vary from the cases mentioned. Integrated and coordinated city management entails the active participation and harmonization of all organizations involved in a particular development plan. The centrality of integrated management is assumed in every development plan of the organization and its main beneficiary. In the field of integrated urban management, it is imperative to possess a comprehensive understanding of the various individuals involved in urban affairs (such as city stakeholders, executive managers, politicians, and planners), as well as the tools and resources utilized in city management (including legal frameworks, organizations, and ourselves). Additionally, a thorough comprehension of the human resources involved in city management, including different levels of authority (such as executive, policy-making, organizational, and planning), is essential. Implementing integrated urban management will mitigate the adverse impacts of urban development and consequently facilitate the city‘s progress. The level of urban development is determined by the role of integrated urban management within the city administration. Enhancing communication and coordination among city managers, local residents, and other stakeholders of urban development increases the likelihood of successfully achieving urban development. The city administration should ensure the continuity of plans despite changes in officials. Indeed, in this scenario, it is imperative that the city officials adhere to the pre- established plans for the city. It is not desirable for a mere change in management to result in the revision of plans, leading to significant financial and temporal repercussions for the city‘s infrastructure. Rotate in the opposite direction. City managers, as professionals in their field, should adhere to the established city plans and, if necessary, modify them in a manner that aligns with their objectives [21-24]. The challenges pertaining to integrated urban management that we currently face in our discussions have already been successfully addressed in numerous advanced societies in the past. However, integrated urban management remains a significant problem in developing nations. Indeed, given that urbanization is a direct result of industrialization, there is a need for greater urban issue has been prevalent in Iranian society for 52 years, while Western societies have been grappling with similar challenges for the past two centuries, suggesting that they may have already found solutions to many of the problems we currently face. According to numerous legal scholars, it also traces back to earlier periods when the matter had not yet assumed its present form. Hence, it is recommended that the city‘s development issue be addressed comprehensively by incorporating all its aspects into the city management‘s development plans. It is important to acknowledge this now in order to avoid duplicating the experiences of others.

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