Fostering citizens’ engagement in smart city within digital era

Department of Economics, Management, Institutions – University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Italy

francesco.caputo2@unina.it

Abstract

Digital instruments, devices, and platforms are exerting a transformative influence on trends and dynamics within socio-economic assets. This evolution leads to the emergence of novel configurations, exemplified by the concept of Smart Cities. It is crucial to comprehend and effectively manage the associated challenges, risks, and opportunities to ensure the viability of socio-economic configurations. This necessitates a paradigm shift in managing and addressing the relationships that form the backbone of these configurations. Given the ongoing evolution in socio- economic landscapes, this paper zeroes in on the imperative to reassess established approaches to citizens’ engagement in Smart City within Digital Era. By centring attention on the domains of technology readiness and the digital gap, the paper introduces a conceptual model grounded in the interpretative framework provided by Viable Systems Approach. This model serves to delineate key pillars for reflection and action, guiding the exploration of new pathways and processes aimed at amplifying citizens’ engagement in Smart City within Digital Era.