Journal of Resource Management and Decision Engineering In Press 2027 09 01 Formulating a Strategic Management Framework for Addressing Spatial Inequality in Kabul City Formulating a Strategic Management Framework for Addressing Spatial Inequality in Kabul City 1 18 EN Journal Article 2026 04 14 <p>This study aimed to formulate and empirically validate a strategic management framework for addressing spatial inequality in Kabul City. An applied exploratory mixed-methods design with sequential qualitative and quantitative phases was used. In the qualitative phase, 20 experts in urban planning, urban management, geography, public administration, architecture, sociology, and strategic management were selected purposively and through snowball sampling in Tehran, and semi-structured interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation. The resulting categories and indicators were used to develop a researcher-made questionnaire. In the quantitative phase, 384 academic, managerial, and professional experts were recruited in Tehran through purposive and professional-network sampling. Construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, while reliability and convergent validity were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, and average variance extracted. Structural equation modeling was then applied to test relationships among the framework components, with p &lt; .05 considered statistically significant. Governance and institutional deficiencies significantly increased spatial and infrastructural inequalities (β = 0.487, p &lt; .001), as did structural and socioeconomic drivers (β = 0.318, p &lt; .001). Integrated spatial planning (β = 0.337, p &lt; .001), institutional capacity building (β = 0.291, p &lt; .001), monitoring and performance management (β = 0.263, p &lt; .001), and participatory governance (β = 0.214, p &lt; .001) significantly strengthened strategic management implementation. Strategic management implementation had a strong positive effect on spatial justice outcomes (β = 0.621, p &lt; .001) and urban cohesion and resilience (β = 0.536, p &lt; .001). Spatial justice outcomes also significantly enhanced urban cohesion and resilience (β = 0.329, p &lt; .001). The model explained 61.4% of the variance in spatial and infrastructural inequalities, 68.7% in strategic management implementation, 58.9% in spatial justice outcomes, and 63.2% in urban cohesion and resilience.</p> https://journalrmde.com/index.php/jrmde/article/download/436/401