How to make global cities: information communication technologies and macro-level variables

Abstract

Increasing in the ranks among the global cities is a top priority not only for the city officials but also for the central governments. With the prevalent use of the information and communication technologies (ICTs), local governments and cities strive to make the best use of the newly emerging technologies. Many cities aspire to create smart, connected and intelligent environments. Although companies such as IBM, CISCO, Siemens, and Ericsson are offering latest ICT products to cities, technology as a standalone entity cannot flourish without a close cooperation at the macro (country) level. In this paper, we identify the significant factors that contribute to creating global cities, and analyze where and how ICTs make an impact for each dimension of success. Overall, the results demonstrate the crucial roles ICTs play in achieving success. The findings also emphasize that cooperation between central and local government is imperative in order to form globally successful cities. Our findings have implications on governors, city and country level technology managers and macro-level government officials.