STRATEGIC CITY MANAGEMENT: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

The article examines aspects of strategic management of socio-economic and environmental development of the city (in particular, on the example of the Development Strategy of Mariupol) with the identification of a number of shortcomings in the declared openness of the strategic management process; The article analyzes the literature sources on the definition of strategic management, its main functions, in particular, planning and forecasting; the stages of strategic management are highlighted, starting with the analysis of its condition, using SWOT and PESTEL analysis, weaknesses and strengths, opportunities and potential threats to development. It is emphasized that this stage allows to move to strategic planning of city development, definition of its policy and development of necessary programs, projects and steps to achieve the strategic goal. A separate stage of strategic management should be its permanent PR support with maximum use of media opportunities. The transition to the stage of implementation of the development strategy should be accompanied by monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives with their constant adjustment.
The article states that the systematized strategic management should first of all answer the questions about the mission, profile of the city, strategic goals of its development and the list of tasks facing local authorities to implement the strategy and achieve the goals, which requires comprehensive, integrated tools. The components of this integrated approach are: collection and analysis of necessary information; formation of development goals; defining the boundaries of development; analysis of available resources; development of alternative strategies; choosing the optimal strategy. The experience of developing and adopting the Mariupol Development Strategy until 2030 is given as an example of practical application of the above-mentioned tools. Mariupol’s mission in Ukraine is to become a vision of the Ukrainian Azov region, a hub for the dynamic development of Eastern Ukraine, its economic, social and multicultural center, one of the symbols of an independent and developed European country.