Analysis and identification of key drivers of city development strategy (CDS) in urban planning; a future research approach to the city category

The process of city development strategy (CDS) was proposed as a content-procedural theory and as a new approach in urban planning by the cities coalition organization to reduce poverty, sustainable development, and promoting participation, and create urban governance. In the urban management system of developing countries, including Iran, several challenges are observed, because the main approach in urban management and planning relies on a comprehensive plan, which is a result of traditional planning that emphasizes development, patterns, and structure. Therefore, adopting strategic structural approaches in the form of a city development strategy seems to be effective to overcome the challenges. The purpose of this research is to analyze and identify the main drivers of city development strategyprograms to achieve the goals of such programs. In this regard, the method of future research has been used in the form of a mix-and-match analysis. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature. The statistical population of this research is the Delphi group, which was selected from a total of 30 people. Opinion polling in connection with the identification of indicators and determination of key drivers was done in person and also through the capacity of virtual space. The indicators affecting the city's development strategy were investigated in four dimensions economic, environmental-physical, institutional-political, and social-cultural development. The results of the research showed that urban competitiveness, urban branding, government effectiveness, access to public services, and strategic planning will have the greatest impact on the process of city development strategy, which should be considered by urban planners and managers.