Implementation of Compliance Function at the Local Level in Montenegro: Methods of Overcoming Smart City Concept Implementation

The goal of the research is to determine how the compliance function can support smart cities in achieving their goals, including improving the quality of life of citizens, increasing the efficiency of city services, and reducing costs and negative impacts on the environment. The research will analyze how the compliance function can contribute to solving the challenges that arise in the implementation of smart city systems. This will be achieved through a comparative case study of the cities of Croatia and Slovenia (Idrija, Kranja, Rijeka, and Karlovac), focusing on data protection, citizen privacy, ethical dilemmas, and legal compliance. The research employed methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, generalization, and comparison. The results indicate the need for a management system at the local level, including a compliance function within the local government, with a focus on smart management, resource management, financing control, and regulatory framework monitoring. Effective management is crucial for local governments to achieve their goals in implementing the concept of smart cities. Montenegro could benefit by acquiring the know-how of its neighboring countries’ varied methods to implement this concept.