The Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Management of the Innovative and Smart City

Abstract

The book titled The Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Management of the Innovative and Smart City, edited by Judyta Kabus, Luiza Piersiala and Michał Dziadkiewicz, is an important contribution to the contemporary discourse on the management of innovative smart cities. The book’s background stems from the global need for more adaptive, sustainable and technology-integrated cities amid major challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanisation and the digital revolution. The book is designed to systematise knowledge about the application of innovative ICT-based solutions in economic and social fields and to introduce the concept of smart cities that emphasise not only technological aspects but also social and economic sustainability.The main editor of this book, Judyta Kabus, is a professor at Częstochowa University of Technology, with a dual academic background in humanities and management and quality science. She is also active in various national and international research projects related to social innovation and corporate social responsibility. Luiza Piersiala is also an academic from the same university, with significant contributions in the fields of logistics and quality management. Both have edited numerous scientific monographs and played an active role in the development of research on urban management.This book consists of six chapters, each discussing different aspects of smart cities: The first chapter discusses ICT challenges in the Transportation, Shipping and Logistics (TSL) sector in Poland. The author shows that although almost all companies have Internet access (99%), the adoption of technologies such as cloud computing (43.5%) and AI (1.8%) is still low compared to other sectors (pp. 1–16). The digital divide and the low digital intensity index (only 1.2% very high in the TSL sector) highlight the need for policy interventions and technology training (pp. 15). The second chapter reviews the concept of future smart cities. Agnieszka Ulfik explains that the definition of a smart city continues to evolve and now encompasses up to 64 fields of study, from engineering to social sciences (p. 19). The European Union plays a significant role through programmes such as the Smart Cities Marketplace and the European Innovation Partnership (pp. 20–21). Boyd Cohen’s “Smart City Wheel” model is also explained as a six-dimensional framework for smart cities, ranging from smart economy to smart governance (pp. 22–23).Chapter three discusses the role of urban labs in improving the quality of life for city residents. Urban labs are described as collaborative spaces that connect residents, academics, and government to develop innovative, data-driven, and participatory solutions (pp. 41–63). This concept is particularly relevant in the context of inclusive cities that are adaptive to change. Chapter four focuses on technological innovation in transportation. Marcin Dziadkiewicz discusses the legal and practical aspects of autonomous vehicles and the integration of digital systems in traffic management (pp. 64–99). He emphasises the importance of adaptive regulations to support innovation without compromising public safety.Chapter five discusses tax incentives for companies that implement CSR. Izabela Bagińska explores the legal and policy framework of the European Union that supports the integration of CSR into business strategies and proposes a fiscal incentive model for companies that contribute to social development (pp. 100–118). Chapter six highlights green solutions in smart cities, such as sustainable transport, renewable energy, and hydrogen technology. The author emphasises the importance of public-private collaboration to achieve net-zero emission cities (pp. 119–140). The strategies outlined include energy efficiency, environmentally friendly infrastructure development, and the use of alternative energy sources.This book has several strengths. First, it takes a multidisciplinary approach, harmoniously combining technological, legal, economic, and social aspects. Second, each chapter includes statistical data and case studies, such as the Polish Logistics Performance Index report (pp. 5–6) and trends in cloud computing usage (pp. 10–12), which provide a strong empirical foundation. However, there are also some weaknesses. The primary focus remains limited to the Polish and Central European context, thus failing to address the challenges faced by cities in the Global South. Additionally, there is an imbalance in the depth of analysis across chapters – for example, the chapter on CSR (Chapter 5) is more theoretical compared to the chapter on ICT TSL (Chapter 1), which is rich in data.Scientifically, this book makes an important contribution to the literature on urban management, particularly in integrating digital technology for urban efficiency and sustainability. It also expands the discussion on the role of technology as a social and economic tool, not merely a technical device. The scientific implications include the formulation of data-based management models and CSR as integral elements of smart governance (p. viii). This book is highly beneficial for academics, master’s and doctoral students in the fields of management, urban technology, digital economy, as well as policymakers and practitioners in logistics and transportation. For readers interested in cross-border smart city practices, it is recommended to combine this reading with case studies from Asia or Africa. This book can also serve as a foundation for further research on the digitalisation of the logistics sector and the role of citizens in smart city development. As a recommendation, readers are encouraged to further explore the concepts of urban labs and the smart city wheel within their local contexts and to apply principles of inclusivity and sustainability in technology-driven design and decision-making. This book not only explains how smart cities are built but also how citizens can actively participate in this transformation.

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