Modelling Spatial Planning Policy through Quality Function Deployment

Modelling Spatial Planning Policy through Quality Function Deployment | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Modelling Spatial Planning Policy through Quality Function Deployment Wendy Jo Mifsud, Lawrence Farrugia Caruana This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5436655/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Spatial planning is a complex endeavour, inherently political due to the involvement of diverse stakeholders with conflicting values and needs. This research aims to improve the process by introducing a design-based methodology centred on Quality Function Deployment (QFD). Traditionally, policymaking can struggle to adequately consider the varying needs and concerns of stakeholders, often resulting in decisions that favour specific vested interests. Through a pilot workshop using a real-world scenario, this research has demonstrated the unequal weight given to diverse voices. The proposed QFD methodology offers a powerful tool to address these imbalances. By systematically visualising stakeholder differences and their impacts on policy objectives, QFD provides a structured approach for policymakers to weigh policy objectives against stakeholder needs. This is done by modelling and exploring how specific policy options influence stakeholder needs, fostering a deeper understanding of the potential consequences of decisions. This research not only contributes a novel application of QFD to stakeholder participation in spatial planning, but also bridges the gap between theory and practice. The analysis integrates empirical findings from the pilot workshop with theoretical debates on the spatialisation of politics and the politicisation of spatial relations. By acknowledging the inherent political nature of spatial planning and equipping policymakers with a method for navigating it, this research paves the way for more informed, equitable and inclusive policy outcomes. design-based methodology policymaking policy instrument Quality Function Deployment (QFD) spatial planning Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5436655","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":436504990,"identity":"f745efd2-a5eb-46a3-b345-511610f67bc8","order_by":0,"name":"Wendy Jo Mifsud","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABDUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJACCQYGNiDF2PCBgYFZDizEQ6SWxhlALcZwLfi0SUBpRpCWxAZCWgyO9x68zcPAJ8cgdrix8WebdfqGawcYH7xtY4i2x6XlzLlkax4GNmMG6cTGZt629NwNtxOYDee2MeT24NBidiPHTJr3H1tig3Ri+2PGtsMgLWzSvPi03H9jJg20BaQF5LDD6Qa3E9h/49VygwehpYG37XACUAsbMz4t9mdyjC3nAP3CBvILz7l0w5m3E5sl55yTyO05gF2LZPsZwxtvGI7J8UunP2z8UWYtz3c7+eCHN2U2ue0NOKwBAiYehmPgyIQCRpBaCVyqIUp+MNTgVTAKRsEoGAUjHAAANShWgiOreNoAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"University of Malta","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wendy","middleName":"Jo","lastName":"Mifsud","suffix":""},{"id":436504991,"identity":"c5bf443a-2f51-40f4-a6ce-f52aa2ba643a","order_by":1,"name":"Lawrence Farrugia Caruana","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Malta","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lawrence","middleName":"Farrugia","lastName":"Caruana","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-11-12 06:23:19","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5436655/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5436655/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":83601254,"identity":"d05aa530-5679-49db-b319-6f4403380881","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-29 09:17:15","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":792160,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ModellingSpatialPlanningPolicythroughQFDManuscriptSpringerNature2NDREVISIONCLEANCOPY.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5436655/v1_covered_c2b2ec85-8937-4c9e-8954-49f742947b44.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Modelling Spatial Planning Policy through Quality Function Deployment","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"design-based methodology, policymaking, policy instrument, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), spatial planning","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5436655/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5436655/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eSpatial planning is a complex endeavour, inherently political due to the involvement of diverse stakeholders with conflicting values and needs. 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