An investigation into the elusive concept of smart cities: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

ABSTRACT

Despite almost two decades of research, authors have disagreed about the concept of smart cities. In this article, we provide a systematic review and a meta-synthesis analysis of smart cities. We find a convergence in the literature on the following primary characteristics of smart cities: (a) advanced ICT Technology, (b) sustainability, (c) innovative and high-skilled society, (d) high-tech governance and citizen participation, and (e) knowledge-based economy. Based on these findings, we suggest a new notion: A smart city engenders an innovative and qualified society, oriented towards the development of the knowledge economy, which makes advanced ICT technologies aimed at promoting sustainability and participatory urban governance. Our study robustly offers an understanding of smart cities and presents a creative perception encompassing these five principal characteristics worthy of further investigation.

KEYWORDS:

• Smart city
• systematic review
• meta-synthesis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daniel Esashika

Daniel Esashika – Staff member of the Committee of Science and Technology, Innovation and Communication at Brazilian Chamber of Deputies and PhD Candidate at University of São Paulo. Education: Ph.D Candidate, Innovation Management – University of São Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo. Master, Innovation Management – University of Brasília, Brazil, Brasília. B.A, Management – University of Brasília, Brazil, Brasília.

Gilmar Masiero

Gilmar Masiero – Associate Professor of Business Administration at University of São Paulo (USP). Education: Postdoctoral – Harvard University at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies and at UNICAMP at the Center for International Relations Studies. Ph.D, Business Administration – Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Brazil, São Paulo. Master, Human Resources, Organizations and Strategic Planning – Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Brazil, São Paulo.

Yohann Mauger

Yohann Mauger – Associate Professor of Management at Northern Kentucky University. Education: Ph.D, Management – NEOMA/ICN/KEDGE Business School Consortium (ECRICOME) (AACSB), Paris, France. Diplôme Sup de Co, International Business – Ecole Supérieure de Commerce (ESC), Rennes, France. M.B.A. in International Business – University of Akron, Ohio. B.A., International Business – Open University, England in conjunction with ESC Rennes, France.