Urban Management Performance Analysis with Emphasis on Good Governance Indicators from the Citizen's Perspective (Case Study: Sari City)

City of Sari Due to the increasing annual urban population and the importance of this city politically (provincial capital), its management has been studied according to citizens' views. The statistical population of the city is Sari and the sample size is estimated to be 384 by Cochran formula. In addition to descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation), a single-sample t-test was used. For this purpose, in this research, we have tried to examine the indicators such as participation, efficiency, transparency, centrality justice, accountability, accountability, legality and collective agreement. To measure each of the variables in the questionnaire, a 5-level Likert scale was used. The results show that the average total of good governance indicators from the perspective of citizens is 1.98 out of 3 in an unfavorable situation. According to the results, among the indexes, the index of effectiveness and effectiveness of urban managers and managers with an average of 2.46 out of 3 was the highest among the indicators, but below the standard average, which indicates that the method is not effective The activities of managers in the urban area and the participation index with 1.67 of the 3 lowest values. Therefore, in order to increase citizens' participation in administrative affairs, urban authorities need to provide citizenship participation. Extended abstract

         The rapid and unnecessary growth of the urban population has changed the functions and identity of the city, making urban management one of the most complex and central areas of relations between the people and the state. One of the most important, yet new, debates in the development literature since the 1980s is the subject of good governance. Comprehensive growth, coupled with serious challenges in the socio-physical, economic, cultural, and environmental contexts, has for years required experts' intellectual consensus to address urban life issues and the efficiency of urban management. The theme of good governance to achieve sustainable human development can only be achieved when the goals of democracy, equality in service and environmental protection are pursued through the formation of integrated urban management. Good governance involves cooperation and partnership between the three main pillars of government agencies, civil society and private sector organizations (Ghanaie & Musaikhani, 2012: 2; Taghawai & Tajdar, 2009: 46). Among the various approaches proposed in the field of urban management, good urban governance is one of the most discussed approaches. At the present time, this approach is the only way out of the impasse and poverty and underdevelopment of cities in international fora and expert circles, and urban management has no choice but to implement it (Movahed et al, 2014: 148).  

      This research is of a practical nature and can help municipality, city council and all governmental and non-governmental institutions improve urban management in the form of good urban governance. According to the research components in this research, the research method is descriptive-analytical. Data were collected by library studies and field. The statistical population of this research is the citizens of Sari city. Based on the latest census of the population of 309820, the sample size is 384 according to the Cochran formula. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (T-test). The aim of this study was to find out the goals of this study.

       Descriptive findings from 384 respondents to the questionnaire were 78.6% male and 21.4% female. In terms of educational level, the group is divided into the group with the highest percentage of respondents at the level of bachelor, with 28.6% and the lowest level of education in the guidance period. In terms of employment, 71.4% of the respondents were unemployed and 28.6% were unemployed. Based on theoretical foundations of  the research, good urban governance indicators are referred to 8 indicators, participation, transparency, consensus, efficiency and effectiveness, justice and equity, accountability, accountability and law-governedness. As a result, in order to strengthen good governance, the need to strengthen each indicator is required, which ultimately provides a constructive interaction between managers and citizens in order to increase the performance of urban management. The results show that because of the lack of involvement of urban managers, the lack of provision of participation, the lack of proper responsiveness of urban managers, poor managerial responsibility and lack of transparency in decision making and planning, Citizens and, in the end, reduced cooperation between urban executives and citizens. The descriptive information collected includes age, sex, education, and type of employment. The average of the respondents indicates that the citizens are dissatisfied with the urban managers. In the meanwhile, the efficiency and effectiveness index of managers and municipal officials with an average of 2.46 out of 3 was the highest and the participation index of 1.67 out of 3 was the lowest. Findings show that good governance in Sari city is in poor condition with respect to average (1.98). Out of the studied indices, the efficiency and effectiveness index of managers and officials was 2.46 out of 3, but it was lower than the standard average, indicating that the method of activity of managers in urban area was not effective, and the participation index. It had the lowest value of 1.67 out of 3.

        The city of Sari faces some problems in implementing good governance: lack of centralized management to implement and enforce the governance approach, lack of citizens' trust in their participation, and ultimately inefficiency of urban management in employing citizens. It is a tangible city. Consequently, in order to strengthen good governance, the need to reinforce each of the indicators is needed, which ultimately provides a constructive interaction between managers and citizens to enhance urban management performance. The results show that due to lack of involvement of urban managers, lack of participation, lack of proper accountability of urban managers, poor accountability of urban managers and lack of transparency in decisions and planning, reduces citizens' trust. And ultimately, there has been a decline in cooperation between urban managers and citizens. Finally, the undesirable level of these factors has weakened the effectiveness and efficiency of urban management performance in the studied cities and the undesirable level of good urban governance. For this purpose, in order to strengthen the performance of urban management, in the planning and policy making of citizens as the main focus. This study found that it is not possible to form a good urban governance approach without considering the effective role of citizens, and this approach paves the way for developing and solving urban problems and ultimately enhancing the performance of urban management. Any major changes in the city and reduction of urban problems are subject to fundamental reforms in the approach and systems of urban planning and management.