Designing a Model for Controlling and Handling the Power Exercising Environment for Urban Planning Process Based on Grounded Theory; a Case Study of Mashhad Metropolis

Aims & Backgrounds: Lack of readings of concepts such as power has caused irreparable damages to the body of cities. In Iran, due to the domination of traditional viewpoint of planning, this concept has not paid much attention. An urban power exercising environment, deviating from the expected process, in addition to cause the domination of the powerful people on urban topics, has marginalized the local community with the least impact and has impressed the physical structure of the city. This study attempts to explore the unknown dominant dimensions in the Mashhad metropolis by examining the power exercising environment governing the planning process of urban development designs (including preparation, approval and implementation) in order to control and handle it, and provides a suitable model by understanding these processes. Methodology: This paper, based on the grounded theory approach, examines its various dimensions through three types of open, axial, and selective coding. Findings: On this basis, after clarifying the concept of Controlling and Handling the Power Exercising Environment, the results of a total of 20 interviews 84 identifiers, with 27 concepts and 5 categories was achieved. Conclusion: The results of this research showed that the Controlling and Handling the Power Exercising Environment model is identified by expressing 5 categories in deterrent factors, factors, the intervening conditions of executive, consequences and finally, were presented as a conceptual and strategic framework.