The contribution of knowledge management to smart cities for innovation: proposal for a prescriptive framework and a research agenda

Abstract

Objective: To verify how Knowledge Management (KM) is being associated with Smart Cities (SC) initiatives, through the analysis of the scientific production of both themes in indexing journals in the last 10 years. This article has three research questions: 1. What are the methodological approaches adopted to investigate research problems on KM in SC. 2. What are the research topics investigated on KM in SC? and 3. How is research on KM characterized in SC? Relevance/originality: This research analyzes how KM is associated with SC initiatives and proposes a research agenda on KM in SC. Methodology/approach: The method used was a semi-systematic literature review. Main results: The research found gaps concerning the adaptation of KM models in the context of SC, the selection of relevant variables for the analysis of KM in SC, the effect of KM on the results of SC initiatives, and how actions emerging issues of transparency and governance can influence or be influenced by KM. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The article builds an overview of the collaboration of two fields in evidence today. In addition to the analysis of all articles in the sample, which includes quantitative data, the authors bring a proposed research agenda with the aim of promoting the maturation of the theme. The main theoretical contributions are in the proposal of the prescriptive framework and the research agenda. Social/management contributions: In a context of excess knowledge, decision-making becomes complex. Thus, understanding how KM can act in the complex context of SC helps managers to visualize alternatives to problems, selection, and organization of knowledge that affect decision-making.