Marketing innovation and internationalization in smart city development: a systematic review, framework and research agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Christofi ◽  
Lea Iaia ◽  
Filippo Marchesani ◽  
Francesca Masciarelli

PurposeSmart cities and their internationalization process and efforts in order to gain the competitive advantage in the international arena have received a great deal of attention by marketing scholars and practitioners alike. Yet, the growing number of studies focused on this topic has led to considerable fragmentation and theoretical confusion.Design/methodology/approachTo move the domain forward, this study applies the systematic review methodology and reviews 41 peer-reviewed articles published in highly esteemed publication outlets.FindingsBuilding on the antecedents–phenomenon–consequences framework, the authors discuss the antecedents and consequences of the various innovative marketing strategies that smart cities adopt for their internationalization and development of an international competitive advantage. In the process of doing so, the authors synthesize the findings of the studies as well as literature gaps that provide fruitful avenues for future research.Originality/valueThis article offers a systematic review of extant marketing research on smart cities and their efforts to internationalize. In particular, this study advances the conceptual development of smart city internationalization and innovation by a marketing lens, provides an integrative, international-oriented framework that maps the extant literature across disciplines and countries, expands the boundaries of this research domain into new research paths and offers implications for policy and practice.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Omoregie Aghimien ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
David J. Edwards ◽  
Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu ◽  
Paul Olomolaiye ◽  
...  

PurposeThis study presents a fuzzy synthetic evaluation of the challenges of smart city realisation in developing countries, using Nigeria as a case study. By defining and delineating the problems faced by the country, more viable directions to attaining smart city development can be achieved.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a post-positivist philosophical stance with a deductive approach. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from built environment professionals involved in the delivery of Nigerian public infrastructures. Six dimensions of the challenges of smart cities were identified from literature and explored. They are governance, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal issues. Data gathered were analysed using Cronbach alpha test for reliability, Shapiro-Wilks test for normality, Kruskal-Wallis H-test for consistency and fuzzy synthetic evaluation test for the synthetic evaluation of the challenges of smart city attainment.FindingsThe findings revealed that all six assessed dimensions have a significant impact on the attainment of smart cities in Nigeria. More specifically, issues relating to environmental, technological, social and legal challenges are more prominent.Originality/valueThe fuzzy synthetic approach adopted provides a clear, practical insight on the issues that need to be addressed before the smart city development can be attained within developing countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Alexander ◽  
Jiju Antony ◽  
Bryan Rodgers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the most common themes within Lean Six Sigma (LSS) relating to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within manufacturing organisations and to identify the research gaps in the existing literature. Design/methodology/approach Tranfield et al.’s (2003) systematic review methodology was utilised encompassing three stages: planning, conducting and reporting/dissemination. Findings The literature revealed that there are many areas in which LSS has been utilised with varying successes. In total, 52 journals have been reviewed and it has been concluded that although LSS is a powerful methodology, there are many gaps that exist in the literature and further research is needed to address these in the field of LSS. Research limitations/implications The papers included in the systematic review were peer-reviewed papers available in English. Due to these limitations, relevant papers may have been excluded. Moreover, the authors have excluded all conference and white papers for their inclusion in this study. Practical implications It is vital that LSS practitioners are fully aware of the benefits, limitations and impeding factors when implementing a LSS initiative. Therefore, this paper could provide valuable insights to ensuring maximum value, is obtained from LSS implementation in SMEs. Originality/value This systematic review identifies research gaps in the current literature and highlighting areas of future research which will be beneficial to many SMEs in their pursuit of value optimisation.


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaoyu Chen ◽  
Irene Cheng Chu Chan

PurposeThis study examined a tourism destination, Macao, a fast-progressing smart city under development, vis-à-vis a set of smart city quality of life (SCQOL) domains and verified their effects on citizens' attitudes, perceptions and support for citizen-centric smart city development (SCD).Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a quantitative approach. In particular, a questionnaire survey was used to collect data from Macao citizens. Factor analysis was used to identify SCQOL domains, while multiple linear regression and cluster analysis were used to achieve the research objectives.FindingsThis study identified five SCQOL domains: smart environment, smart people, smart livelihood, smart economy and economic policy, and smart mobility. Each of the domains had a different influence on citizens' attitudes and support for SCD. Three citizen segments (passive, neutral and enthusiastic supporters) were identified.Practical implicationsThe five SCQOL domains, their effects on citizens' support for SCD and the three citizen segments identified can help implement the appropriate measures to enhance the target groups' SCD. The findings are also of practical value in evaluating the citizen-centric approaches on smart progress in other contexts.Originality/valueThe concept of smart technology has been widely applied to all aspects of city development. The main goal of SCD is to enhance citizens' quality of life. However, most studies have only explored smart cities and quality of life in isolation. Grounded on citizen centrality, this study contributes to the literature on SCD by proposing a new concept of SCQOL, identifying the domains constituting SCQOL and their influence on citizens' support for SCD.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Makrides ◽  
Olga Kvasova ◽  
Alkis Thrassou ◽  
Elias Hadjielias ◽  
Alberto Ferraris

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to systematically collate and scrutinize the state of the art on consumer cosmopolitanism (CCOS) from an international marketing perspective and to provide a foundation for future research on the subject matter to proliferate and prosper.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of the extant literature was conducted focusing on peer-reviewed journal articles published in major marketing, international business and management journals.FindingsA systematic analysis of 44 journal articles shows that CCOS research is a rapidly growing research stream in the international marketing field. However, at the same time, the results reveal a lack of coherent and consistent conceptual underpinning, conflicting empirical findings regarding the profile and behavior of cosmopolitan consumers, persisting knowledge gaps, as well as methodological and contextual weaknesses.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to consolidate the pertinent literature on CCOS. In doing so, it provides a roadmap for future research with reference to theory, context and methodology based on the research inconsistencies and knowledge gaps identified, contributing toward the development of this research area.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Ross Kennedy

The importance of inscribing maintenance and continuity — disruption mitigation — measures into Smart City technology has long been an overlooked topic in proposals and procurement processes, hampered in part by lack of legibility, advocacy, and community capacity for addressing innovation. The paper analyzed four select cases from the Top 20 finalists of Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge by asking the question, ‘what happens when innovators move on?’. Cases focused on the themes of intergenerational knowledge, food security, test-bed urbanism, and disaster response. Case specific examinations were synthesized into broader explorations regarding addressing underlying infrastructure, labour force availability & training, and the role of government and planners in these projects. Finally, future research recommendations discuss how to package site specific maintenance and continuity measures into Smart City projects such that communities are equipped to assume systems from the innovators. Key words: Smart City development; urban planning innovation; infrastructure systems disruption.


Author(s):  
E. B. Nizamieva

Purpose: The aim of this work is to show how smart cities can drive the reorganization and efficiency of existing cities.Design/methodology/approach: The paper describes modern achievements in the field of a smart city, the latest achievements of cities and technological solutions they introduce. The paper analyzes when and why this concept appears, development stages and prospects of this concept. The world problems of the urbanization process in new territories and ways to solve them.Research findings: The paper considers relevant reports and studies highlighting the problems and solutions of urbanization and the ecological situation in cities, the negative impact on the environment.Practical implications: One of the ways to solve such problems is the implementation of a set of solutions included in the smart city concept. How modern technological solutions and large data volume assist in the communal and economic resource management, overcome environmental challenges of today and make the city more accessible to its residents. How historical cities can actively integrate and improve urban environment with minimal intervention.Originality/value: Attempts are made to answer whether cities need to become smart, what the consequences may be. As a consequence of emerging issues, many problem must be discussed in future research.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Ross Kennedy

The importance of inscribing maintenance and continuity — disruption mitigation — measures into Smart City technology has long been an overlooked topic in proposals and procurement processes, hampered in part by lack of legibility, advocacy, and community capacity for addressing innovation. The paper analyzed four select cases from the Top 20 finalists of Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge by asking the question, ‘what happens when innovators move on?’. Cases focused on the themes of intergenerational knowledge, food security, test-bed urbanism, and disaster response. Case specific examinations were synthesized into broader explorations regarding addressing underlying infrastructure, labour force availability & training, and the role of government and planners in these projects. Finally, future research recommendations discuss how to package site specific maintenance and continuity measures into Smart City projects such that communities are equipped to assume systems from the innovators. Key words: Smart City development; urban planning innovation; infrastructure systems disruption.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Warnecke ◽  
Rikka Wittstock ◽  
Frank Teuteberg

Purpose Benchmarks provide a strategic tool for assessing the sustainability impacts of urban development. Addressing the need for practitioners to evaluate their initiatives, track progress and determine their competitive position, this paper aims to introduce the conception and implementation of a smart city maturity assessment and benchmarking tool. Design/methodology/approach Following a design science approach, application objectives are defined based on a review of literature and related benchmarking tools. Focusing on a subset of functions for the prototype version, these objectives are operationalized by development of a smart mobility maturity model, indicator set and survey. A two-step evaluation by means of a test run using data of five cities and expert interviews confirms the tool’s functionality. Findings Compliance with the defined objectives is achieved by implementation of a Web-based self-assessment tool using objective indicators. Future development iterations are to integrate additional smart city action fields. Practical implications Delivering a city’s maturity level, the tool enables stakeholders to measure the impact of their initiatives. Benchmarking functions for tracking progress and comparison with other projects are provided in the form of graphical analyses. Ac-tionable guidance is supplied for improving the city’s standing. Social implications Strategies supporting a sustainable lifestyle are crucial for smart city development, as the shaping of attractive living spaces and a reliable information and communication technology and physical infrastructure form major selling points for attracting skilled workers, businesses, tourists and citizens. Originality/value Enabling practitioners to self-evaluate their initiatives, providing the option to track progress and supplying guidance for improving a city’ standing, the proposed solution represents a novel form of knowledge transfer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arif Budy Pratama ◽  
Satria Aji Imawan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a scale for measuring perceived bureaucratic readiness for smart city initiatives. Design/methodology/approach The present study employs a mixed method approach to achieve its research objectives. An exploratory study, consisting of literature review and qualitative interviews with key informants, was conducted to develop an initial instrument for measuring bureaucratic readiness. An online survey of 40 civil servants involved in smart city programmes in the Yogyakarta City government was then administered to test the instrument’s validity and reliability. Findings Perceived bureaucratic readiness can be measured through four dimensions: commitment of the upper echelons, legal support, information technology resources and governance. Research limitations/implications The proposed scale provides an alternative instrument for measuring perceived bureaucratic readiness for smart city initiatives. However, as data were only derived from one city government, they are relatively small in scope. Future research can be conducted for generalisation by replicating this study in other cities, thereby measuring its effectiveness in other contexts and settings. Practical implications This study not only provides a better understanding of bureaucratic readiness for smart city initiatives, but also proposes an assessment tool as a practical means of assessing bureaucratic readiness. The quantification of readiness is beneficial to putting smart city programmes into practice, as it allows smart city managers to assess the internal bureaucracy’s level of readiness. It also allows managers to mitigate and further policy agendas and thereby improve the bureaucracy’s support for smart city programmes. Originality/value Literature sometimes underestimates the role of bureaucracy in smart city implementation while overly stressing stakeholders, vendors and technology. This paper attempts to contribute to smart city research by reaching beyond the technological perspective and focusing on local government bureaucracy. None of the extant literature provides a scale for measuring bureaucratic readiness. The study thus proposes a systematic way to develop a means of measuring perceived bureaucratic readiness for smart city programmes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Zait

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to identify the main necessary competences for smart cities’ development. From their inception until now, smart cities are striving to clarify their identity and become better, and thus, smarter. The whole process is in many ways similar to the journey of a child in his quest of growing into a smart adult, with the help of parents and support from educators. But it is not easy to tell how we, as citizens, through civic, educational and governance structures, raise smart cities. What competences do we need? This was the main question for the present essay, generated from several theoretical and practical experiences. Design/methodology/approach In this study, literature analysis, synthesis and theoretical inferences, for the smart city problematiques, and induction and exploratory qualitative analysis, for soft, civilizational competences, were used. Findings The main conclusion is that the literature still associates the smart city especially with its hard dimension, the highly developed and intelligent technologies, including information and communication technologies (ICTs), despite a growing number of studies dedicated to the soft, human and social capital component. The intangible, soft component – the human actor – plays an equally, if not even more important role, through mechanisms affecting all classical dimensions of smart cities (smart economy, people, governance, mobility, environment, living). Civilizational competences, soft skills or human-related characteristics of cities strongly influenced by culture (at national, regional, organizational and individual levels) are crucial for the development of smart and competitive cities. Civilizational competences are grouped into four categories: enterprise culture, discoursive culture, civic culture and daily culture. If we want to make our cities smart, we need to develop these competences – first define them, then identify their antecedents or influence factors and measure them. Research limitations/implications The study has several limits. First, the exploratory nature in itself, with many inductive and abductive suppositions that will need further testing. Second, the literature selection has a certain degree of subjectivity owing to the fact that besides the common, classical theory of smart cities, the authors were particularly interested in rather heterodox opinions about the subject, which lead them to the inclusion of singular or isolated points of view on narrower issues. Practical implications The findings of this exploratory conceptual essay could be used for further testing of hypotheses on the relationship between civilizational competences and smart cities’ development. Social implications Local and regional administrations could use the results to increase civil society’s involvement in the development of smart cities. Originality/value The study points out some new connections and relations for the smart city problematiques, and explicitly suggests relating the development of smart cities to the development of civilizational competences, as a complex category of factors going beyond the unique dimension of “people” or “human and social capital” from the smart cities literature. It is an exploratory outcome, generating new research hypotheses for the relationships between smart city development and culture-related factors grouped under the “cities” civilizational competences’ label.


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