The advantages of and barriers to being smart in a smart city: The perceptions of project managers within a smart city cluster project in Greater Copenhagen

The background for this study is a two-year smart city cluster project, called Ready for Smart Growth, which included various smart city projects in 22 municipalities. This study's novelty lies in the context of its analysis and theoretical contribution, which outline an identification of the complexity, advantages and barriers that smart city project managers perceived in an ongoing smart city cluster project. Further, a definition for a smart city project is suggested. This research is within a case study methodology, and was based on a mixed method approach that employed nine key informant interviews and two questionnaires. The results revealed that the project managers perceived different needs and goals within the context of smart city innovation and realization. The project managers perception of smart city was mainly within a smart economy and smart governance perspective. However, the project managers also criticized the relatively less focus on public participations and dialogue-oriented smart city solutions. The perceived major barriers to real smart city implementations were regulations; silos; and the choice of stakeholders, including companies promising too much. The major advantages include the different perspectives and types of knowledge of various stakeholders.

Automated summary

This study examines the complexity, advantages, and barriers perceived by smart city project managers in an ongoing project, as well as proposes a definition for smart city projects. The results indicate that regulations, information silos, and stakeholder choices are major barriers to smart city implementation, while the diverse perspectives and knowledge of stakeholders are seen as major advantages.