Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Ph.D. in Geography and Urban Planning, Lecturer, Department of Tourism Management, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.
2
Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.
4
Masters in Urban Planning, Noor Hedayat Institute of Higher Education, Shahrekord, Iran.
10.22054/urdp.2026.90657.1760
Abstract
Good urban governance within the smart city paradigm represents a fundamental transformation in urban management, emphasizing a citizen-centric, participatory, and sustainable approach. This study aimed to identify and stratify the components of good urban governance based on the smart city framework in Shahrekord. Methodologically, this applied research adopted a descriptive, analytical, and survey-based design, utilizing a mixed-methods approach. The statistical population comprised academic and executive experts possessing substantial scientific or empirical background in urban governance and smart cities, alongside a practical familiarity with Shahrekord. Participants were identified and selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The sampling process continued until theoretical saturation was achieved, ultimately involving 26 experts. The findings revealed that through documentary analysis and expert consensus, 22 key components of good urban governance within the smart city context were identified and validated. By employing the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) technique, these components were organized into an 11-level hierarchical structure. Within this hierarchy, "smart and data-driven governance" was positioned at the base of the pyramid as the most fundamental driver of the system. Conversely, four components, namely "electronic participation", "digital capacity building", "organizational agility", and "evidence-based policymaking", were situated at the apex as the most dependent ultimate objectives. In conclusion, the successful realization of a smart city in urban areas like Shahrekord necessitates the adoption of a systematic, governance-oriented perspective.
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