While the smart city literature extensively discusses the human-centric approach to smart city governance, empirical evidence remains limited. This study examines the practical applications of this approach and considers the remaining challenges, using the case of the Sustainable Smart Town of Fujisawa, Japan. It focuses on institutionalisation, organisational transformation, and public participation, highlighting the achievements and limitations of human-centric governance in this context. In Fujisawa, a practical approach to human-centric governance emerged to overcome bureaucratic barriers to implementing smart city initiatives. This includes formulating smart city policies tailored to the urban context and introducing institutional reforms in the local government; these allow the city to engage with multiple stakeholders and prioritise citizens' needs. However, several challenges persist, such as the limited competence of the local smart city department to drive a citywide initiative and limited governmental digitalisation. Furthermore, while public opinion is collected by certain advanced digital tools, there is no mechanism for stakeholder dialog or direct citizen participation in decision-making processes; this lack of engagement prevents the city from adequately addressing citizens' needs. Addressing these limitations is vital for achieving a human-centric approach in local smart city initiatives.
Policy Implications
- Emphasise the importance of institutionalisation, organisational change, and public participation in local smart city practices to steer smart city governance toward a more human-centric approach.
- Encourage the establishment of a dedicated department at the municipal level to coordinate smart city initiatives and ensure cohesive policy implementation across various administrative departments to streamline efforts and enhance collaboration among stakeholders.
- Acknowledge that municipalities must prioritise the digitalisation of local governmental departments to facilitate citywide smart city transformation.
- Implement extensive measures, such as stakeholder dialogs and direct citizen participation in decision-making processes, to enhance public participation when introducing new smart technologies; this will ensure that these technologies can serve citizens' needs and expectations.
Photo by Deepak Ramesha