Essentials for Smart Sustainable Cities: Streamlining and Enabling Managers and Leaders for Effective Actions

This study aims to simplify the wide range of information surrounding smart cities and extract the essentials to enable leaders and managers to take effective actions toward fostering a smart sustainable city culture and reality. The concept of smart cities is multifaceted, encompassing various definitions and real-world applications. To provide clarity to entrepreneurs and public managers, it becomes crucial to identify the core attributes essential for a city aspiring to be labeled as "smart." To achieve this goal, a comprehensive literature review is undertaken, focusing on six widely cited and relevant groups of indicators commonly used in the domain of smart cities. Through meticulous analysis, the study identifies recurring themes, indicators, and keywords, distilling the essence of smart sustainable cities into a visually accessible scheme. While the practical implications of this study are evident in assisting managers to define and execute smart city projects and initiatives, it also underscores the significance of policy interventions. A call is made to promote policies that incentivize local initiatives while embracing the new decentralized and anthropocentric approach to smart sustainable cities. In conclusion, this study not only provides invaluable guidance for leaders and managers navigating the complexities of smart cities but also advocates for transformative policies that can drive a collective effort toward a sustainable and smart urban future.