Urban Management
leila sahraei cheshmehsardeh; alireza Sheikholeslami; Ahmad Pourahmad; Hassan Piriaei
Abstract
Extendedabstract:
Introduction:
Social resilience has emerged as a fundamental pillar of sustainable urban development, particularly in addressing complex crises and social disruptions. This research investigates the transformative potential of smart urban governance in enhancing social resilience through ...
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Extendedabstract:
Introduction:
Social resilience has emerged as a fundamental pillar of sustainable urban development, particularly in addressing complex crises and social disruptions. This research investigates the transformative potential of smart urban governance in enhancing social resilience through an in-depth case study of Borujerd, Iran. As a mid-sized city with distinctive socio-cultural characteristics and evolving infrastructure, Borujerd presents a compelling laboratory for examining how digital governance solutions can be effectively implemented in urban contexts with limited resources. The study addresses a critical gap in literature by exploring the intersection of technological innovation and community resilience in developing urban settings, where traditional governance models often face significant challenges.
Theoretical Framework:
The study constructs its theoretical foundation by merging two complementary frameworks: smart governance theory and social resilience theory. The smart governance dimension draws on contemporary urban scholarship (Meijer & Bolívar, 2016; Nam & Pardo, 2011) to examine how information and communication technologies (ICT) can enhance decision-making transparency, administrative efficiency, and public service delivery. The social resilience component builds upon the work of Norris et al. (2008), focusing on a community's capacity to adapt to stressors through robust social networks, institutional support, and collective problem-solving. The integrated framework proposes that smart governance tools act as catalysts for resilience by creating new channels for citizen-state interaction, improving access to critical information during crises, and enabling more responsive institutional frameworks. This theoretical synthesis offers a novel perspective for analyzing urban systems in transition.
Methodology:
The research employs a comprehensive mixed-methods approach designed to capture both quantitative patterns and qualitative insights:
1. Quantitative Component:
o Conducted a stratified cluster survey of 380 Borujerd residents (confidence level = 95%, margin of error = 5%)
o Utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation
o Assessed model fit using CFI (0.92), TLI (0.91), RMSEA (0.06)
o Reliability analysis showed Cronbach's α between 0.82-0.89 for all constructs
2. Qualitative Component:
o 20 in-depth interviews with urban planners, municipal officials, and community leaders
o Thematic analysis using NVivo 12 software
o Triangulation of interview data with policy documents
3. Case Analysis:
o Evaluation of Borujerd's smart city projects (2021-2023)
o Infrastructure assessment through GIS mapping
o Institutional capacity analysis
Results and Discussion:
The study reveals several significant findings with important implications:
1. Governance Impact:
o Smart governance demonstrates a strong positive effect on social resilience (β = 0.62, p < 0.001)
o The model explains 41% of variance in resilience outcomes (R² = 0.41)
2. Key Determinants:
o Citizen e-participation emerges as the strongest predictor (β = 0.35)
o Managerial transparency reduces crisis response time by approximately 22%
o Institutional accountability shows significant but modest effects (β = 0.19)
3. Technology Mediation:
o Digital platforms amplify governance effects (β = 0.45)
o IoT applications show particular promise in emergency management
4. Implementation Challenges:
o Digital divide persists, with 42% of peripheral neighborhoods lacking reliable internet
o Cultural barriers affect adoption rates among older demographics (31% resistance)
o Centralization tendencies hinder local innovation
The integration of smart governance strategies has yielded measurable improvements, increasing overall resilience capacity by 35%. However, the findings suggest that technology alone cannot guarantee resilience - its effectiveness depends on complementary investments in human capital and institutional reform.
Conclusion:
This study makes three primary contributions to urban governance literature:
1. Theoretical: Develops an integrated framework for analyzing smart resilience
2. Methodological: Demonstrates the value of mixed-methods approaches in urban studies
3. Practical: Provides actionable insights for policymakers
Key recommendations include:
• Prioritizing LTE network expansion to underserved areas
• Developing culturally-sensitive digital literacy programs
• Establishing neighborhood resilience hubs with hybrid (online/offline) capabilities
• Implementing participatory budgeting through digital platforms
The Borujerd case demonstrates that smart governance, when properly contextualized, can significantly enhance urban resilience. However, success requires balancing technological innovation with attention to local socio-cultural realities. This research offers a replicable model for similar cities in developing contexts, highlighting the importance of adaptive, people-centered approaches to urban digital transformation.
Keywords:
Smart urban governance, Social resilience, Borujerd city, Citizen participation, Digital transformation, Urban sustainability, Crisis management
