Capabilities for transformative sustainability management in cities

Riina Bhatia, Matti Pihlajamaa, Kirsi Hyytinen and Anni Jäntti

Public Management Review, 2025, vol. 27, issue 4, 1179-1203

Abstract: Public organizations’ ability to promote sustainability is becoming a critical issue in public management research and practice. However, there is a scarce understanding of how to enable sustainability transformation in cities. Our study contributes to the literature on sustainability in city management by introducing the concept of transformative sustainability management (TSM) and identifying the nature and roles of TSM capabilities needed to advance sustainability goals. Our findings indicate the need for a management cycle built on the capabilities of strategy formulation, sustainability measurement, collaboration, and reflexivity. We also identify capability microfoundations at the level of structures, processes, tools, and skills.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2024.2394955

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