Macro-innovation 2.0: Twenty-First Century Smart Cities as a Case in Point

An innovation perspective is applied to this examination of smart cities. Smart cities are presented as an example of what is termed macro-innovation 2.0, which refers to today’s large-scale multisector endeavors, usually government-initiated and -led. Such endeavors are frequently characterized generally by open-ended, often intangible, and “soft” objectives and a significant dispersion of key resources and capabilities. One prevalent objective of macro-innovation 2.0 today is maintaining leading-edge competitiveness. Smart cities represent a clear example of macro-innovation 2.0. Smart cities initiatives are found worldwide. While original distinguishing features of smart cities emphasized incorporation and application of advanced information-related technology, a large body of recent research indicates that smart cities success depends just as much, if not more so, on nontechnological concerns. These factors deal with the inherent complexity, diversity, multifaceted set of major stakeholders, and dynamism of smart cities by applying methods based on relevant sociopolitical, managerial, and economic perspectives.