Designing Policy for Smart cities

Cavada, Marianna (2022) Designing Policy for Smart cities. In: Smart Cities and the Next Generation. Emerald, Bingley. (In Press)

Abstract

This position chapter explains the importance of designing policy for Smart cities. Smartness is mainly defined by the general understanding that allows digital solutions to impact urban challenges positively. During the past few decades, the discussion around smartness has grown across academic, practice, and governance circles. Despite the common understanding of using digital systems in Smart cities, some discussions provoke much criticism among these groups. The term Smart cities have not been yet crystalised; the meaning can change for each professional, which creates strong silos when it comes to smartness across the professions (Cavada et al., 2014). For example, academic criticism of the term means that smartness is focused on a fiscal-outcome agenda in practice. The governance of smartness requires a holistic view of the delivery and efficacy of becoming smart. Therefore, a transformation needs to happen to deliver the overarching goals and overcome the organisational and operational silos in smartness. This chapter reflects precisely how to bring transformation in smartness and offer a broader understanding through policy beyond the general knowledge of the digital ambition in Smart cities.