Smart Sustainable Cities Implementation in Zambia: The Influence of Local Culture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26437/ajar.v11i1.826Keywords:
Barriers. culture. implementation. smart sustainable cities. Zambia.Abstract
Purpose: This study examines the relationship between culture and the barriers to implementing smart sustainable cities (SSCs) in Zambia.
Methods: This article utilised a quantitative research approach, conducting a questionnaire survey of ninety-two (92) purposively selected respondents from architecture, engineering, construction, security, healthcare, and governance sectors in both public and private organisations. The study employed correlation analysis using the Kendall tau-b to examine the relationship between culture and the challenges of implementing SSC.
Findings: The findings showed a positive correlation of varying significance between culture and the barriers to SSC implementation in Zambia. A significant correlation was observed between culture and insufficient use of ICT for environmental sustainability and energy efficiency as well as centralised decision-making. Other barriers strongly associated with culture included a lack of ICT knowledge and information sharing, standardised assessment frameworks for SSC, and proper implementation of local area plans.
Research Limitation: The disproportionate regional representation in the sample may limit the generalizability of the findings across Zambia.
Practical implications: Recognizing the link between barriers to SSC implementation in Zambia and local culture highlights the importance of investing in understanding local culture before any SSC development, as this could be crucial for project success in culturally diverse contexts.
Social Implication: Considering local culture in SSC development can enhance the inclusion of citizens from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Originality/ Value: The research highlights the correlation between cultural factors and the challenges in establishing SSCs, emphasising the need to integrate cultural considerations to enhance inclusivity in their development.
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