The networked micro-decision context: a new lens on transformative urban governance

Area of Science:

• Public Administration
• Urban Studies
• Political Science

Background:

• Recent large-scale societal disruptions (e.g., pandemics, climate events) highlight the need for adaptable governance systems.
• Existing research on transformative governance often overlooks the micro-level decision-making dynamics driven by individuals.
• Understanding the human element in policy change is crucial for effective crisis response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the knowledge gap regarding decision-making dynamics in transformative governance.
• To introduce a novel analytical framework for examining policymaking processes.
• To uncover how individual decision-maker attributes and relational structures influence transformative policy outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Development of a new analytical lens for studying policymaking.
• Focus on micro-level underpinnings of government decisions.
• Emphasis on relational and dynamic aspects of urban governance.

Main Results:

• Identified the critical role of individual decision-makers and their relationships in policy transformation.
• Proposed a framework to analyze how personal characteristics and network structures impact transformative policy.
• Highlighted the limitations of focusing solely on aggregate governmental outputs.

Conclusions:

• Transformative governance requires understanding the people involved in decision-making, not just organizational outputs.
• A dynamic and relational perspective is essential for effective urban governance in times of crisis.
• Further research should explore the proposed analytical lens to enhance crisis management strategies.