Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Journal of Urban Sciences, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
The adoption of digital technologies by cities requires developers to create consistent value propositions with enduring business models to ensure the long-term success of smart city initiatives. This research examines the relationship between value propositions and strategic urban development goals by combining the Smart Cities Wheel (SCW) and Business Model Canvas (BMC) frameworks. A total of 116 smart city initiatives were analyzed through an exploratory qualitative study, comprising 38 large-scale projects and 78 application-level implementations spanning 23 countries. The research indicates that the Smart Mobility and Smart Environment dimensions of the SCW dominate the focus, while operational efficiency, along with digital service delivery, emerge as primary value themes. The analysis reveals that the SCW Smart Governance and Smart People dimensions, which focus on citizens, receive insufficient attention. At the same time, essential aspects of the business model, such as revenue generation and cost structures, are often overlooked in the BMC components. The research develops a dual-framework (SCW-BMC) assessment tool that reveals strategic implementation mismatches and provides practical recommendations for urban planners, policymakers, and technology providers. The study demonstrates that smart city development needs to achieve better financial sustainability through inclusive participation.