Managing regions

• Jean-Pierre DUPORT
  President, Réseau Ferré de France : former prefect of the Île-de-France region (area surrounding Paris)
  

Summary

In order to develop a region, one has to take into account the short, medium and long-term views. The short-term view means to react rapidly when confronted with a crisis. The medium-term view requires formulation of development policies ; and the long-term view requires anticipation of important changes in our society as a result of prospective analyses. Nevertheless, taking into account the time factor alone, however important that may be, is not enough on its own to form a regional development policy. One should also establish organisations, such as advisory committees, to discuss how to initiate feasible projects, to know how to react collectively so that all those involved agree with the projects and, finally, to reserve a dynamic role for the State and its regional representative in the drafting of important development policies. All these factors are complementary : it is important to have an agreement between them all to achieve good results, regardless of the regions in question. It is true that there are never regions without a future, only regions without projects.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Paul-Roland VINCENT.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it in French (PDF help) using your password or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference EV050105).

The entire article appears in French in the Journal de l'École de Paris du management N° 54.