Digitization in Cities and the Public Sector

Track Description
Governments around the world are embracing radical transformations with the emergence of new digital technologies in the likes of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and Virtual Reality. As part of this trend, cities are also appropriating these new digital technologies to tackle pressing urban challenges and utilize their limited resources effectively. Consistent with the United Nation’s 11th Sustainable Development Goal of making “cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, environmental, economic, and social sustainability has become a driving force behind the digitalization of cities. But at the same time, the diversity of digital technologies and socio-economic discrepancies across cities implies that the digitalization of cities has to be context-specific and demands an intricate understanding of how such transformation plays out in a variety of contexts globally.

Accompanying the digitalization of cities is the digitalized transformation of the public sector, compelling us to rethink the way government services are delivered, citizens are engaged, and public agencies create value for their stakeholders. Indeed, the digitalized transformation of the public sector generally and also specifically within the unique contextual boundaries of a given city is challenging contemporary knowledge on the enactment of public policy, the design and implementation of information systems, as well as the management of governmental institutions. Along with rapid advances in technology, it is becoming increasingly critical for information systems researchers to not only better comprehend the effects of digitalization on the intertwining relationships among public agencies, citizens, and businesses, but to also consider these effects within a global lens that takes into account variability in local conditions.

The Digitization in Cities and the Public Sector track is intended for high‐quality papers on the varied dimensions of digital transformation in the public sector. We welcome papers that can contribute to theory and practice by balancing research rigor with pragmatic relevance.

Track Chairs
Margunn Aanestaad, University of Agder, margunn.aanestad@uia.no
Minseok Pang, Temple University, minspang@temple.edu
Chee Wee Tan, Copenhagen Business School, ct.digi@cbs.dk