in the name of god introduction fo social and cultural studies office introduction the victory of...

In the name of God

Introduction fo Social and Cultural Studies Office

Introduction

The Victory of Islamic Revolution caused the dramatic changes in the socio-cultural macro system. Among

these upheavals, must be mentioned: changes in approaches and strategies in order to recreation and

promote Iranian Islamic identity, independence and providing the context for inward proud of society.

After about 35 years of this great event, now more than seventy percent of the population lives in cities.

Although urbanization process has been provided opportunities for development , but the vast and

profound economic, social, cultural and political challenges as well have been. Along with urbanization,

society have been affected by its general processes such as : industrialization, commercialization,

consumerism, globalization, leisure oriented lifestyle, Individualism and other cultural processes.

These developments have complicated the situation of civil society and it has turned into a major issue

of the whole social system. In this regard, the urban management , more than ever needs new and

efficient methods and approaches to achieve urban sustainable development. Therefore, the urban

management researches and experiences in the Global metropolitan, Regional and Local levels, must be

recognized, analyzed and indigenous.

Social and Cultural Studies Office of Tehran Municipality, due to the complexity of urban social and

cultural issues of the city such as Tehran, the cultural approach, according to upstream documents of

urban management strategies, a five- years outlook horizon of Social and Cultural Affairs, is seeking

to provide grounds for the "city of man" . Pursuit of this goal requires a theoretical foundation that

we will explain.

Various developments and events in recent decades, the concept of quality of life, urban landscape,

urban identity, citizen involvement, neighborhood revitalization and urban highlights built has been

the key concepts in citizen dialogues . This complex has prepared the grounds for “culturalization of

City” .

Now, the discourse of " culturalization of City", and its key approach “the cultural turn”, the city has

become as an important base for “social “and “city of man” studies .

In this approach, the discourse of urban studies, issues related to the symbolic meaning of culture,

urban subcultures, ethics, citizenship, urban lifestyles, representations of the city, city landscape,

City character, urban cultural industries, cultural economy, creative cities, urban identity, learning

cities, city's urban experience, urban cultural policy, urban consumption, leisure, everyday life in

urban and urban spaces are considered. In this approach, qualitative methodology is mainly

emphasized.

Goals

working on Culturalization ;

Understanding the roots of urban issues in scientific methods ;

Promote Literature in urban field;

Offering practical strategies based on scientific findings.

Policies and procedures

Relationships with universities, institutes and scientific centers;

Knowing Scholars and Experts in urban studies field aimed to take advantage of their

knowledge;

Using a variety of scientific methods in the research projects;

Empowerment experts, managers, researchers, Audiences and citizens as producers

and consumers of this researches;

Guidelines

Neo institutionalism

Although Institutionalism and Neo institutionalism, rooted in the economics and social

sciences fields, but has entered in functional and practical part of urban management

applications. This theory has considered the “ institutions” as the rules dominant on the urban

actors behaviors , the main variable of urban development and urban management

capacity building. Promote of institutional legitimacy, trust, innovation, the general

knowledge management and capacity building strategy for urban management are among

the results of the new institutionalism.

Since Tehran urban management in order to fulfill the "city of man" rather than a “city of man

“ emphasizes on human factors as culture, empowerment of citizens, in this regard ,

mobilizing cultural resources and capacities of urban management (management in the field

of subcultures, and social networking community mental deposits) is crucial.

Dialogue-Oriented Strategy

The Social and Cultural Studies Office of Tehran Municipality, in order to mobilize resources,

cultural competences in Tehran and "dialogue" with institutions, organizations and individuals has

taken these actions:

Communication and signing an agreement with 26 scientific association in human science fields ;

forming scientific councils;

connection with social networks such as district and neighborhood centers;

communication with local elites in form of neighborhood meetings ;

relationships with universities, research centers and think tanks in form of assignment the

research projects;

Process –oriented strategy

The Office of Social and Cultural Studies does not limit itself to cross-sectional and

temporary studies. This Office tends to move in direction of achieving long-term social

goals and creating a synergy with other related institutions. Studies Office, considers the

change of vision in urban management to the “process approach” , as one of its main

duties and in this regard, will do its studies.

Qualitative approach

This strategy is against quantity approach and merely is a pathological and methodological

approach. For understanding better the urban issues, in parallel of preference qualitative

methods, we must using a combination of the other research and studies methods . Focus

groups, semiotics, discourse analysis, content analysis, comparative and historical analysis,

the underlying theory, ethnography, etc… are among the ways that the urban management

can be equipped to understanding the mental world of citizens .in this regard, it has also

been taken some actions :

Workshops in qualitative methods; Invitation and Application masters degrees in anthropology, cultural studies, communications, etc.; Publish and translate the books with the subject of qualitative methods (focus groups, urban ethnography, urban semiotics); Qualitative research in the field of social impact assessment (Ataf), efficacy ,etc..

Strategy to improve the life quality and life satisfaction Achievement of the "city of man" requires to giving importance of the desires and needs of their citizens and understanding them by urban management. For achieving this goal , Social and Cultural Studies Office. by" poll assessments" and" needs assessments"researches , gathering information on the quality of citizens life is seeking to monitoring the fluctuations of the life conditions , perspectives, attitudes and behaviors of citizens .It is expected that with in formations derived from these studies and analysis them , the opinions, attitudes and reasonable preferences of citizens, should be considered in urban management policy and planning .

The Strategy of culture as an exchange facilitator

The exchange of social , economic and political capital and move to the side that ,with drawing the cultural outlook of the City , “Culture”, would be placed at the center of all urban planning such as urban services, transportation and traffic, etc....

Mission Study and required research for social and cultural deputy of Tehran municipality and related departments for urban socio- cultural policy and planning ;Duties : 1 -The study of citizen satisfaction of the programs and activities conducted by deputies, organizations and institutions and District municipalities; 2- Specified the citizen-oriented scale of urban managers in varios levels using the results of surveys and notify the relevant authorities in order to consider in their annual performance evaluation;3-outspread and applicable researches in social and cultural needs assessment field, assessment the effectiveness of projects and programs describing, analyzing and explaining the cultural and social issues in Tehran with the aim of prioritizing and providing practical advice to policy makers and planners in this field and using the results in the annual plans;

4- Checkout the urban plans and projects consequences and effects on the

social and cultural dimensions of city in order to determine the requirements

and considerations to reduce malfunctions in city system or increase the

efficiency and functional dimensions using social attachments.

5- Neighborhood researches to identify social and cultural priorities and

practical solutions , take advantage of the views and knowledge of local

Pundits and giving them to the neighborhood manager .

6- Preparing the social use from the results of the social studies and urban

culture researches that have been applied in accordance with applicable

instructions ,

7 – product literature and create theoretical and practical knowledge about

socio cultural issues at the neighborhood, district, city and country levels

through meetings, seminars and scientific conferences,

8 - Production and propagation of knowledge through the compilation and

translation of required books and articles;

9 – Setting social and cultural database in order to delineate social and

cultural aspects of the city, and using them in urban policy and planning;

10 - Financial and spiritual support of “MA” and “PHD” thesis, and using their

results;

11- Support of researchers, scholarly articles and scientific seminaries related

to urban affairs in order to promote social and cultural activities in this field;

12- Publication and dissemination of scientific works and research

achievements in urban socio cultural studies;

13- meta-analysis and secondary analysis using of urban socio cultural

studies,

14 -specialized, social , cultural development and urban management

libraries ;

15 – Holding and presence in specialized exhibitions;

16 - Preparation the annual plans and budgets of the social and cultural

Office;

17 – Providing the Instructions and operating procedures of the social and

cultural Office;

18 – Assessment and control of project status and Performance evaluation

of district social and cultural Offices;

19- Financial affairs of social and cultural Office; according to standards

and guidelines.

Expert of Research and Surveys


Research Assistant Research Assistant Deputy Director of Planning and Academic Services

Deputy Director of Planning and Academic Services

Manage studies and opinion surveys

Manage studies and opinion surveys

Expert of Evaluation and Social Attachment Expert of Evaluation and Social Attachment

Office of General ManagerOffice of General Manager

Monitor and manage the quality of life

Monitor and manage the quality of life

Department of Planning and Control Performance

Department of Planning and Control Performance Office of

Research Services

Office of Research Services





Expert of database Expert of database

Expert of neighborhood Studies


Expert of Plan and Budget Expert of Plan and Budget

Expert of Evaluation and Control of performance




Expert of presentations

and Information

Expert of presentations

and Information

Expert of Library

Expert of Library

Expert of Printing and Publishing

Expert of Printing and Publishing






IT Specialist IT Specialist

Expert of Plan and Budget Expert of Plan and Budget








Expert of contractsExpert of contracts

The proposed structure of the social and cultural OfficeThe proposed structure of the social and cultural OfficeGeneral Manager General Manager

in the name of god introduction fo social and cultural studies office introduction the victory of...

Documents