Developing Local Detailed Planning Processes Under Institutional Constraints: Evidence From a Finnish Municipality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58235/sjpa.63271Keywords:
institutional theory, land use planning, efficiency, public administration, cultural–cognitiveAbstract
Finnish municipalities operating under an identical statutory framework show large variation in detailed planning performance: the national average duration of detailed plan amendments was 25.7 months (2015), while the case studied here was completed in approximately 4.7 months. This study examines how institutional conditions shape the efficiency of local detailed planning in Finland through a qualitative case study of Ilmajoki municipality, a densely populated Finnish municipality. Drawing on Scott’s institutional pillars (regulatory, normative, and cultural–cognitive), the study applies process tracing and thematic analysis of municipal planning documents and process-level evidence. The main contribution is a mechanism-based explanation of how institutional pillars translate into efficiency at the municipal level. Findings show that proactive administrative arrangements—such as strengthened coordination and governance structures—reduce lead times by preventing late-stage iterations while maintaining legality and transparency. In addition, cultural–cognitive elements (shared routines or understanding and coordination norms) support efficiency by enabling upstream coordination and trust-based interaction under resource constraints. The study provides transferable insights for Nordic municipalities aiming to improve planning efficiency within existing legal frameworks. Limitations include a single-case design and embedded practitioner role, suggesting a need for comparative Nordic research.
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