Abstract
Place identity embodies a distinctive essence that enables locations to establish a unique character, a crucial factor in bonding current and attracting new residents, tourists, and economic activities. This distinctiveness not only fosters satisfaction but also plays a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term prosperity of the place. Achieving an intended place identity requires an effort from place managers and the community, necessitating a profound understanding of how the intended place identity manifests in reality and adapts to a dynamic context. This understanding empowers them to take corrective actions, ensuring the alignment between the envisioned and the real identity.
This study aims to formulate an evaluation framework designed for the continuous assessment of place identities’ achievement levels. The framework distinguishes itself by not merely facilitating a passive evaluation of implemented measures but also offering the potential for intervention to enable course corrections. This aspect is particularly crucial within a context marked by complexity and diversity, where a multitude of dynamic elements, not entirely foreseeable during the initial definition of place identity and its implementation measures, come into play.
The study builds upon the prior contributions of Botschen, Promberger, and Bernhart (2017), who introduced the Brand-driven Identity Development of Places Framework, and the recent work by Maffei (2023), which assessed its practical implementation. Employing design science research, this study is grounded in practical relevance, aiming to assist practitioners in guiding places toward a more resilient future. Additionally, the research is based on a comprehensive review of existent knowledge in the field, enhancing transparency for practitioners while advancing theory in a domain where approaches to developing place identity are sophisticated but their effectiveness remains largely unobserved. Through this approach, the research designs an artifact that offers insights into place identity dynamics and facilitates the measurement of achievement levels.