Management in local and regional development and the problems of its theoretical defi nition

The aim of the thesis was to analyze and systematize theoretical and practical knowledge of management in local and regional development, to do critical evaluation of conditions and practical experience with management in local and regional development in the Czech Republic (on a level of microregions or voluntary associations of municipalities) on the base of the analysis of a current state, and to suggest measures to its support and improvement. In the first chapter the hypothesis and aims of the thesis are determined. In the second chapter some basic terms as e.g. local and regional development, actors of local and regional development or endogenous strategy of local and regional development are defined. The third chapter deals with general conditions of management in local and regional development. Attention is payed to globalization and regionalization of economy, increasing of competitor´s fi ght between municiplities and regions, increasing importance of the local and regional actors in controlling development process, and also to changes in regional policy and public administration spheres (see a discussion about new public management). Th e main part of the thesis deals with a definition of management in local and regional development, its specifications (compared with corporate management) and its main functions. The fourth chapter points at competences of managers in local and regional development. The fifth chapter deals with various organizational arrangement forms of local and regional development actors. Management in local and regional development has not been theoretically defined, yet. Current knowledge of management in local and regional development does not provide neither complete, nor definite instructions and methods of how to start or control development process on the local and regional levels. Moreover, they present a collection of knowledge which can serve as a starting point for work of managers who are involved in local and regional development. These are the main people who have to be able to apply them appropriately in specific local conditions. The role of the managers is key, because according to the numerous researches, a success of the development process is more and more dependent on authorities: political leaders and professional managers. Not only their knowledge, but also practical skills and social maturity is required.