Defining a smart nation: the case of Singapore

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key characteristics and propose a working definition of a smart nation.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of Singapore through an analysis of the key speeches made by senior Singapore leaders, publicly available government documents and news reports since the launch of the smart nation initiative in December 2014 was carried out.

Findings

Just like smart cities, the idea of a smart nation is an evolving concept. However, there are some emerging characteristics that define a smart nation.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides an initial understanding of the key characteristics and definition of a smart nation at the nascent stage and a foundation for further research on the topic.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the existing smart cities and smart nation literature by providing insights to the key characteristics of smart nation and proposing a working definition of the term.

Citation

Hoe, S.L. (2016), "Defining a smart nation: the case of Singapore", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 323-333. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-02-2016-0005