Externe Beratung in der Gemeinde-, Stadt- und Regionalentwicklung: Lernen aus der Organisationsentwicklung

This essay discusses the work of external consultants in the context of urban development processes. It suggests that this new field can profit from theories, methods and experiences from the area of organizational development and explores what elements are adaptable. On the basis of the comparison of different approaches to change in organizations and in spatial contexts first conclusions concerning external consultation in spatial development processes are drawn. A neighbourhood development process in the city of Winterthur, Switzerland is analyzed using the case study research method. The evaluation of the case study shows that a similar framework of interventions has been used as in organizational development and points at the need for combining specialist and process consultation in neighbourhood development. Finally, on the basis of the theoretical and empirical findings a conceptional structure for external consultancy is suggested.