Greater involvement of residents in shaping their surroundings means building technologically revolutionised and happy communities – says Prof. Dorota Dobija. We expect a more comfortable life. This can happen if a different approach to city management is developed, one that should be based on cooperation with citizens. Co-decision is what is “smart”.
Prof. Dorota Dobija, an economist from Kozminski University, is a co-author of a study on the public values of “smart” projects. It was conducted in Kraków and Warsaw – two Polish cities that were included in the “Smart City Index 2023”. Local government elections will take place on 7 April, i.e. in seven weeks. It is time to say to smart cities: “let’s check”.
It is commonly assumed that a smart city is a concept of a city that uses innovative technological solutions, such as city bike stations, electric buses or boards monitoring air pollution, to improve the quality of life of residents. It is worth asking whether initiatives created by cities truly align with what residents expect.
Prof. Dobija emphasises that the originators of “smart” projects are usually private companies that propose various solutions, often without respect for the real needs of citizens.
Badanie, które przeprowadzono pomiędzy przedstawicielami mieszkańców i managerami, którzy zarządzają inicjatywami typu “smart”, potwierdziło, że wartość publiczna postrzegana przez twórców miast, nie zawsze jest zgodna z oczekiwaniami mieszkańców. Naukowcy zauważyli również rozbieżności między tym, jak ludzie wyobrażają sobie funkcjonowanie projektów inteligentnych miast, a tym, jak naprawdę działają, i czy faktycznie są one inteligentne.
– If a city decides on a particular investment, it should take care of the social aspect of the project and consult the idea with residents. Smart solutions cannot be a seductive narrative that sounds good in election spots. They should primarily be actions that actually improve the quality of life of residents – says the expert from Kozminski University.
The study, conducted among representatives of residents and managers who oversee smart initiatives, confirmed that the public value perceived by city creators is not always consistent with residents’ expectations. The researchers also noticed discrepancies between how people imagine the functioning of smart city projects and how they really work, and whether they are smart.
According to the expert, a concept based on cooperation promotes an inclusive and participatory decision-making process, which can lead to more effective and meaningful results.
– For example, such cooperation can be used to develop sustainable transport systems, support social entrepreneurship, make decisions on the development of green urban spaces, and improve access to basic services such as healthcare or education. People care about rest and safety – stated Prof. Dobija.
In her view, smart city management should focus on the human being and their needs, because residents are the main recipients of the introduced improvements. – In such a city, various stakeholders – residents, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations, activists and officials – cooperate to face challenges. Shared governance assumes partnership and trust between different actors – points out the researcher.
– The concept of city management based on cooperation is well developed in Scandinavian countries; in Polish conditions, cities are only beginning to gain their first experiences with such an approach. Participatory budgeting and the possibility for residents to decide which projects they would like to implement are an example of a city based on cooperation – Dobija points out.
The study also shows that the further from the city centre, the fewer innovative improvements. – Electronic boards showing the arrival time of buses or trams are a very helpful device, but outside the centre sometimes there is not even a bus shelter to protect from the rain, let alone a multimedia timetable – notes Prof. Dobija.
Prof. Dobija also pointed out that projects located in central points of the metropolis are often targeted at a small group of recipients. – Thanks to initiatives such as an electric car charging station, the attractiveness of the city increases. Unfortunately, such vehicles exclude most residents for financial reasons, because they are an exclusive good. A wealthy society is one in which a rich person takes the metro, not one in which a poor person has a car – comments Prof. Dobija.
The study was carried out thanks to the National Science Centre. The research team included: Prof. Giuseppe Grossi, Zuzanna Staniszewska and Dominika Kaczmarek-Ciesielska. The results will be published in the academic journal: “Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal”. *** Media contact: mateusz lipka | pro science [email protected] +48 575 515 633
