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Strategic visualization: the (real) usefulness of cognitive mapping in smart city conceptualization

Ana Luísa A. Vaz (ISCTE Business School, University Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal)
Fernando A.F. Ferreira (ISCTE Business School, BRU-IUL, University Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal) (Fogelman College of Business and Economics, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA)
Leandro F. Pereira (ISCTE Business School, BRU-IUL, University Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal)
Ricardo J.C. Correia (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal)
Audrius Banaitis (Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, Statybos Fakultetas, Vilniaus Gedimino Technikos Universitetas, Vilnius, Lithuania)

Management Decision

ISSN: 0025-1747

Article publication date: 31 March 2021

Issue publication date: 21 March 2022

707

Abstract

Purpose

The concept of smart city has recently become more topical in academic and policy discussions. This idea is considered a complex, non-consensual subject since its definition has not yet been agreed upon by most authors in the relevant fields. The need to identify and measure smart city indicators has also given rise to many different evaluation procedures. However, the available frameworks have yet to overcome challenges in structuring and measuring all the evaluation parameters of the cities in question. Thus, methods still need to be developed and applied that can structure criteria used to assess smart city success.

Design/methodology/approach

This study sought to show cognitive mapping's tangible usefulness as an expedient tool for strategic analysis, using smart cities as a complex object of study. To this end, various cognitive maps were constructed and compared using the Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) approach.

Findings

Cognitive mapping's advantages and limitations in the strategic visualization research context are analyzed and discussed.

Originality/value

The authors know of no prior work reporting comparative analysis of this methodological approach in the same research context.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was partially funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (Grant UIDB/00315/2020). Records from the expert panel meetings, including pictures, software output and non-confidential information of the study, can be obtained from the corresponding author upon request. Facility support from ISCTE Business School, University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal, is also acknowledged.

Citation

Vaz, A.L.A., Ferreira, F.A.F., Pereira, L.F., Correia, R.J.C. and Banaitis, A. (2022), "Strategic visualization: the (real) usefulness of cognitive mapping in smart city conceptualization", Management Decision, Vol. 60 No. 4, pp. 916-939. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-11-2020-1512

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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