Designing a strategic planning approach for integrated area development projects

Abstract

Increasingly, it has become evident that spatial problems can no longer be resolved in isolation, but should be solved in conjunction with other development-related issues. Interest in integrated area development is growing, and a more integrated planning approach is desired. In this design-based research, a conceptual ‘Integrated Area Development & Management’ (IADM) approach has been developed. This IADM approach is based on the principles of strategic planning and designed following the reflective design cycle. To gain insights into how the plan development process of an integrated area development project evolves in practice, how the stakeholders perceive its performance and to what extent the plan development is strategic a literature study and two longitudinal in-depth case studies were carried out. Therefore the integrated area development projects IJsselsprong in Zutphen and IJsseldelta Zuid in Kampen were studied for over one year. Based on this extensive exploration research the strategic planning process model of Bryson was adjusted for a collaborative and publicsector-dominated setting. The designed IADM approach is an interactive and action-oriented strategy for the collaborative plan development and implementation process of integrated area development projects. It is split into two components: 1. IADM process steps that outline an appropriate strategic planning process for a joint integrated area development project; and 2. IADM guidelines that describe factors that need continuous nursing and maintenance. Finally, interventions were implemented in a third case study -the Avenue2 project in ‘s Hertogenbosch to reflect on the conceptual IADM approach and determine experiences with the approach.