Expert Views on Value Alignment for Stakeholders in Smart Cities

Abstract

Smart City initiatives are critical in the digital information society. However, citizens and the value they receive from these initiatives are not being considered, particularly in developing countries where the digital divide is growing bigger in a post-Covid-19 society. The purpose of this paper is to report on an empirical validation of the Value Alignment Smart City Stakeholder (VASCS) model that was conducted using an expert review approach. The model was designed in a previous study using a systematic literature review and the conceptual framework analysis method. This paper presents the findings, which revealed interesting worldviews from the international experts about what makes cities smart. The expert review was conducted successfully and it validated the model with some minor recommendations suggested for improvement. The model can be used by practitioners and researchers to guide Smart City initiatives with the aim of improving the social lives of those living in these cities.