Exploring socio-technical imaginaries on smart city sustainability

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how the sociotechnical imaginaries of smart city sustainability converge and diverge between creators and users. Design/methodology/approach The authors built a theoretical framework using the lens of socio-technical imaginaries to demonstrate how creators and users perceive smart city sustainability based on the European Smart Cities Framework. They then conducted photo-elicitation interviews with 40 city creators and users based on visual sources created by the researchers. These photographs were used to expand ideas about sociotechnical imaginaries and explore imaginary aspects of smart city sustainability. Findings The socio-technical imaginaries of the three pillars of sustainability manifested by city creators did not always align with those of city users. While both actors generally have similar imaginaries on environmental issues, their imaginaries diverged on social and economic issues. Research limitations/implications Our findings highlight the complexity of competing sociotechnological imaginaries. The discrepancies between city creators and users in visualizing smart city sustainability underscore the fundamental tension between policy-driven strategies and life experiences. Practical implications This study provides insights for policymakers, practitioners and scholars seeking to foster a human-centric view of smart-city sustainability. Such an approach can also help meet the needs of multiple actors and promote building smart city projects based on a shared image of the sustainability of smart solutions. Social implications Imaginaries are necessary resources for transformation toward a sustainable future. The findings of this study reinforce the necessity for a more inclusive and participatory approach to smart city projects, leading to a sustainable future. However, to materialize this sustainable transformation, a participatory process is needed. Specifically, socio-technical imaginaries of smart city sustainability can be discussed and shared by creators and users with the hope that a transformative future will emerge. Originality/value This study contributes to the growing literature on smart city sustainability by revealing the diverging socio-technical imaginaries of city creators and users. Additionally, the authors provide methodological insights into data collection through photo-elicitation interviews.