Co-creation Framework Enhances Smart City Development by Prioritizing Stakeholder Input Over Predefined Technology
A life-cycle approach to Smart City development can foster genuine co-creation by engaging stakeholders from the initial stages, rather than presenting them with pre-determined technological solutions.
Innovation The European Journal of Social Science Research · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Existing stakeholder engagement frameworks for Smart Cities are often technologically deterministic.
- 02A life-cycle approach can facilitate meaningful co-creation by disaggregating the development process.
- 03Key issues for successful co-creation include funding, multi-perspective understanding of the city, promotion of digital rights, and robust stakeholder engagement mechanisms.
Application
Design takeaway
Shift from a technology-first to a people-first approach in Smart City design, ensuring stakeholders are active co-creators throughout the entire project lifecycle.
How to apply
When initiating a Smart City project, map out the project lifecycle and identify specific points for meaningful stakeholder input and co-design, rather than just consultation.
Project actions
- 01When designing a system or service for a community, think about how you can involve potential users as co-designers from the start.
- 02Consider the entire lifespan of your design, from its initial concept to its eventual decommissioning, and plan for user involvement at each stage.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Proposes a novel framework for co-creative stakeholder engagement.
- +Integrates established participation principles with a life-cycle perspective.
Limitations
It can be difficult to get diverse stakeholders to participate consistently throughout a long project. Ensuring that all voices are heard equally requires careful facilitation.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the framework relies on its conceptual coherence and alignment with existing theories of participation. Reliability would be assessed through repeated application and consistent outcomes across different Smart City projects.
Think critically
How can the principles of co-creation and a life-cycle approach be applied to smaller-scale design projects, and what are the potential trade-offs?
Design Principles
"Integrate stakeholder co-creation throughout the entire project lifecycle, from ideation to implementation, ensuring technology serves community needs."
This approach shifts the focus from a top-down, technology-driven implementation to a more inclusive and responsive process. By integrating stakeholder perspectives throughout the project lifecycle, designers can ensure that Smart City initiatives genuinely address community needs and aspirations, leading to greater adoption and long-term success.
What This Means for Your Design
Instead of deciding on technology first and then asking people what they think, it's better to involve people from the very beginning to help decide what technology is needed and how it should work for the city.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this paper when discussing the importance of early and continuous stakeholder engagement in your design process, particularly for projects with broad societal impact.
- 2.Use the concept of a 'life-cycle approach' to structure your user research and design iterations.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2023). Towards a co-creative stakeholder engagement in Smart City projects: a life-cycle approach. Innovation The European Journal of Social Science Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2023.2266579 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/605a1baa-aedd-40ad-a5bd-da151e2442eb/co-creation-framework-enhances-smart-city-development-by-prioritizing-stakeholder-input-over-predefined-technology
Paragraph starter
This research emphasizes the value of a life-cycle approach to stakeholder engagement in complex projects, advocating for co-creation over technologically deterministic frameworks. By disaggregating the development process and integrating principles like 'the right to the city' and 'technological sovereignty', designers can foster more meaningful user involvement from conception through to implementation, ensuring that the final design truly serves the needs of its intended community.
Source
Innovation The European Journal of Social Science Research
Towards a co-creative stakeholder engagement in Smart City projects: a life-cycle approach
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about co-creation framework enhances smart city development by prioritizing stakeholder input over predefined technology?
- Shift from a technology-first to a people-first approach in Smart City design, ensuring stakeholders are active co-creators throughout the entire project lifecycle. Evidence: Innovation The European Journal of Social Science Research (2023).
- Why does "Co-creation Framework Enhances Smart City Development by Prioritizing Stakeholder Input Over Predefined Technology" matter for design?
- This approach shifts the focus from a top-down, technology-driven implementation to a more inclusive and responsive process. By integrating stakeholder perspectives throughout the project lifecycle, designers can ensure that Smart City initiatives genuinely address community needs and aspirations, leading to greater adoption and long-term success.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Shift from a technology-first to a people-first approach in Smart City design, ensuring stakeholders are active co-creators throughout the entire project lifecycle.
- What were the main findings?
- Existing stakeholder engagement frameworks for Smart Cities are often technologically deterministic.. A life-cycle approach can facilitate meaningful co-creation by disaggregating the development process.. Key issues for successful co-creation include funding, multi-perspective understanding of the city, promotion of digital rights, and robust stakeholder engagement mechanisms.
- What research method was used?
- Conceptual Framework Development.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Innovation The European Journal of Social Science Research.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When initiating a Smart City project, map out the project lifecycle and identify specific points for meaningful stakeholder input and co-design, rather than just consultation.
- What are the limitations?
- The proposed framework is conceptual and requires further testing and adaptation for specific project contexts. The practical implementation of 'technological sovereignty' and ensuring equitable participation can be challenging.
- Is there evidence that smart city affects design outcomes?
- Smart City projects can be more successful and community-aligned if they involve stakeholders in a co-creative process throughout the entire project lifecycle, rather than imposing technology on them. This approach shifts the focus from a top-down, technology-driven implementation to a more inclusive and responsive pro Source: Innovation The European Journal of Social Science Research (2023).
- Where does this project lifecycle research apply?
- Smart City Project Development It sits within user-centred design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
smart city design research · evidence on smart city · does smart city improve design outcomes · project lifecycle studies for designers · smart city and project lifecycle findings · user-centred design research evidence