From theory to practice: applying systems thinking to Smart Cities

In order to contribute to advance “theory and practice for governing business systems to address the present and future challenges in the global economic and social scenarios” 1, this work aims to re-explore the contribution of systems studies in business management by putting theory into practice through the adoption of the Viable Systems Approach (VSA). As “implementation and deployment of information and communication technology infrastructures to support social and urban growth through improving the economy, citizens’ involvement and governmental efficiency” (Bakıcı et al., 2013: 138), we recognize Smart Cities as a field of enquiry of growing theoretical and practical interest for both the scientific and professional communities (Al-Hader et al., 2009; Chourabi et al., 2012; Lombardi et al., 2012; Jin et al., 2014; Kunzmann, 2014). More specifically, we recognize Smart Cities as examples of complex socio-technical systems (Trist, 1981) in which verify the interpretative potential of a systems thinking based approach of governance and management like the VSA.