Urban Management: Concepts, Principles, Techniques and Education

The paper outlines the limitations of conventional practice for resource-efficient and equitable solutions of urban problems in the context of urban dynamics and uncertainties, and the need for an integrated management approach. It presents a concept of integrated urban management based on management theory and a systems approach, and argues that many principles of traditional management – such as the principles of productivity, social responsiveness and flexibility – are equally applicable to urban management in order to overcome these limitations. Similarly, many techniques of traditional management – such as management science, operations research (OR) and computer-aided design (CAD) – are also applicable in urban management at various system levels, in order to achieve efficiency and equity in the urbanization and development process. Computer-aided techniques for analysis and optimization of urban built form, and for optimal design and drafting in urban development, incorporating OR, are presented as urban planning and management tools to improve productivity and equity in urban operations. Basic features of the software CAUB and HudCAD, and their application, are illustrated with examples. The need for education in urban management, to facilitate application of such principles and management techniques and to solve urban problems in a resource-efficient manner while fulfilling the needs of multiple-stakeholders, is stressed.