Smart City

22B1856

Bachelor

German

5.0

only winter term

1 semester

The module is dedicated to the effects of digitalization on the central functions of a city and municipality and discusses opportunities and risks associated with digitalization processes. In addition to frameworks and theories for describing and explaining digitalization processes, the module focuses on specific methods for shaping digital change in the context of smart cities. In doing so, the module considers a variety of application fields that continuously present challenges for cities and municipalities. Against the background of current technological developments, the following topics are addressed, among others: 

• Multi-modal mobility and intelligent traffic control
• Energy supply and climate protection
• Trade and e-commerce
• Work and New Work
• Digitalization of cultural offerings 
• Sharing economy and co-working space
• E-government
• Digitalization of social and health services 
• Opera Data 
• Digital business models
• Housing and smart houses
• Urban planning and citizen participation 

1. Macro level: System-wide framework conditions and political design parameters: long-term technological potentials in the context of smart cities (including AI approaches, opera data & learning systems; augmented / virtual reality; robotics; 3D printing), international comparison and political strategies for control and legislation.
2. Meso level: management capabilities for digital transformation at the organizational level (including data and design thinking, digital maturity measurement and benchmarking for strategic/tactical management, other fundamentals information management, IT project management, implementation frameworks, innovation capability and culture).
3. Micro level: technology acceptance, digital and data literacy, digital divide, empowerment and disenfranchisement of citizens and public management employees.

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Written examination or
• Portfolio exam or
• Portfolio exam

Students will be familiar with the diverse components and fields of action in the area of smart cities at the macro, meso and micro levels and will be able to reflect on various practical management approaches, theories and evidence-based models for the implementation and strategic (change) management of different, esp. digital technologies. 

Students are able to transfer their previously acquired knowledge to concrete functional or application fields in the smart city context, to elaborate the respective existing opportunities and risks, and to identify and apply methods for the purposeful design of these areas of tension. 

Students will be able to critically reflect on the opportunities and limitations of smart cities and derive strategic and operative fields of action for management and politics based on their knowledge of current developments. Furthermore, they can assess the extent to which management approaches from theory and practice can be used to meet the corresponding challenges and where there is still a need for research in this regard. 

Students are able to understand Smart Citiy application fields on different levels (meso, micro, macro) and from the perspective of different stakeholders and to effectively manage their implementation through the acquired knowledge about success factors, barriers and methods in corresponding implementation projects.

The module places particular emphasis on evidence-based practice. On the one hand, this is reflected in the scientific literature used, but also in the examinations. Here, particular attention is paid to the methodological rigour of the respective assignments. In addition, the students independently specify and work on current and relevant research questions or objectives under guidance of the lecturer. Overall, their capability for independent research and critical assessment of the body of evidence should thus be strengthened.

The goal-oriented and meaningful design of smart cities is an interdisciplinary undertaking that takes place at different levels of society. Students learn to take into account different perspectives on the transformation process and to moderate between stakeholders in a goal-oriented way - especially with regard to the perspective of citizens, IT experts, managers and the perspective of politics. In the module itself, students work cooperatively in small teams to realize the respective exam. 

The module aims to encourage students to think critically, especially with regard to the emphasis on evidence-based practice. Thus, digitalization and generally technologization in the context of smart cities will not be understood as an end in itself and an unconditional panacea, but a factual-constructive relationship to the topic will be built up through the critical examination of strong and weak evidence as well as through the analysis of failed digitalization projects in practice.

The module builds on the content of the first study section and deepens it in the context of "Smart Cities". Thus, among other things, knowledge of business administration and management theories of the public sector, human resources management and labor law in the public sector, the practice of political and social sciences, and public marketing are required with regard to individual digital fields of application. The module is related to the module Politics and Society in the Digital Age - eGovernment and Digital Society.

• Public Management, B.A.

• Liebe, Jan-David

• Liebe, Jan-David