<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study investigated the meaning of a smart city concept, the limitations of municipal role players to adopt the smart city, and the recommendations to facilitate the adoption of a smart city concept in the municipalities of the North West province. A qualitative research approach was adopted to collect data from the participants, which facilitated adequate interactions with the participants through open-ended interviews. Twenty participants were selected purposively to participate in this study through an online platform. Data were analysed using Atlas-ti software (version 8.2), themes and categories were generated and discussed. Findings from the study depict that a smart city concept entails a city that enables communication using advanced technology, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Findings further revealed that the limitation of achieving a smart city in South African municipalities includes a lack of financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, delays in the decision-making process, lack of strategic leadership, corruption of role players, inability to implement research outcomes, and lack of investors. The study recommended, inter alia, that the municipal leadership should encourage techno-centric governance, a source for external funding, engage knowledgeable strategic leaders, facilitate public education, and SMME ICT inclusive strategy.</p>
</abstract>

This study investigated the meaning of a smart city concept, the limitations of municipal role players to adopt the smart city, and the recommendations to facilitate the adoption of a smart city concept in the municipalities of the North West province. A qualitative research approach was adopted to collect data from the participants, which facilitated adequate interactions with the participants through open-ended interviews. Twenty participants were selected purposively to participate in this study through an online platform. Data were analysed using Atlas-ti software (version 8.2), themes and categories were generated and discussed. Findings from the study depict that a smart city concept entails a city that enables communication using advanced technology, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Findings further revealed that the limitation of achieving a smart city in South African municipalities includes a lack of financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, delays in the decision-making process, lack of strategic leadership, corruption of role players, inability to implement research outcomes, and lack of investors. The study recommended, inter alia, that the municipal leadership should encourage techno-centric governance, a source for external funding, engage knowledgeable strategic leaders, facilitate public education, and SMME ICT inclusive strategy.

Smart City Readiness in South African Municipalities: A Qualitative Study

HOLISTICA – Journal of Business and Public Administration

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Smart City Readiness in South African Municipalities: A Qualitative Study"}

This study investigated the meaning of a smart city concept, the limitations of municipal role players to adopt the smart city, and the recommendations to...

Smart City Readiness in South African Municipalities: A Qualitative Study

Publicado en línea: 28 jun 2022

Páginas: 93 - 109

Recibido: 01 dic 2021

Aceptado: 01 abr 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hjbpa-2022-0006

Palabras clave
Smart city, Information Communication Technology, Innovation, Governance, Municipalities

© 2022 Prince Chukwuneme Enwereji et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Smart City Readiness in South African Municipalities: A Qualitative Study

Publicado en línea: 28 jun 2022

Páginas: 93 - 109

Recibido: 01 dic 2021

Aceptado: 01 abr 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hjbpa-2022-0006

Palabras claveSmart city, Information Communication Technology, Innovation, Governance, Municipalities

© 2022 Prince Chukwuneme Enwereji et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
Smart city, Information Communication Technology, Innovation, Governance, Municipalities