Abstract (eng)
The aim of this thesis is to present the current political and planning reality of strategic spatial development in Lower Austria and to compare it with theories of strategic planning. Recommendations for future regional strategies shall be derived from this comparison. To this end, the main region strategies (Hauptregionsstrategien) of 2024 and the progress reports on their implementation are analyzed and the findings documented. In parallel, a literature research on the topic of general spatial planning is conducted and the relevant articles studied. In particular, the linear and adaptive strategy model and the models of Kühn, Vallée et al. and Albrechts are closely analyzed. The comparison of these models yields eight key attributes that are used as criteria of strategic planning to address the research question: To what extent do the main region strategies follow the concepts of strategic spatial planning and development established in the scientific literature? The investigation of this thesis indicates that the main region strategies 2024 for Lower Austria do not meet established criteria in the scientific literature with regard to verifiability of impact goals and performance objectives, systematical and periodical evaluation and the assignment of clear responsibilities. The theoretical concepts of strategic planning were therefore not the basis for the conception of the main region strategies 2024. However, the main region strategies meet formal, and hence subordinate, criteria regarding the planning process and the planning of the implementation process Moreover, they also meet the criteria for a guiding principle, such as the provision of long-term goal statements without a clear definition of the desired final outcome and without guiding principles for long-term activities. The divergence between the main region strategies 2024 and the theoretical concepts becomes larger in the course of their practical implementation, especially with respect to the verifiability of performance objectives, the coordination of the evaluation process to determine the implementation progress, and at times unclear assignment of responsibilities. The comparison of theoretical concepts and their practical application permits the issuing of recommendations for future regional strategies and their implementation regarding the formulation of objectives, the management of evaluation processes, the assignment of responsibilities and the definition of priorities.