Examining the role of city managers in reducing urban risks with passive defense approach (Case study: Nowshahr city)

Urban risks and their coping strategies have become the central concern of urban authorities in recent years. Recognizing cities as one of the most vulnerable residential areas, efforts have been made to enhance the optimal management of these risks at the urban management level. A prominent example of this is the establishment and equipping of crisis management bases at the city level. Objective: This research aims to examine the effective indicators on the role of urban managers in reducing risks in the city of Nowshahr. The present study, in terms of purpose, employs an applied method and, in terms of study approach, uses a descriptive survey method. Data collection methods include questionnaires and library documents, and data analysis is conducted using one-sample t-tests in SPSS software. The study population consists of the city of Nowshahr, with a sample size of 60 individuals selected for the research. The results of the one sample t-test indicate that in the competence and cultural indices, there is a relatively favorable role in reducing risks in the city of Nowshahr. Additionally, the indices of design and planning, as well as infrastructural support, have a positive role. Furthermore, considering the obtained level of significance less than 0.05, with a 99% confidence level, the results are confirmed. The research findings, while confirming the significant impact of these four dependent variables, indicate the managerial performance weakness based on the low averages obtained from the data analysis results.