CITIZENS’ ENGAGEMENT IN A SOCIAL VALUE CO-CREATION WITHIN A SMART CITY – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Purpose: This paper aims to present citizens’ opinion on the severity of existing social problems such as exclusion of individuals with disabilities, poverty or discrimination. Further, the relationship between citizens’ engagement in solving social problems and their demographic factors such as gender, age and level of education is examined. Engagement was defined as the experience of solving local social problems and the willingness to be involved in solving them in the future. Design/methodology/approach: The pilot survey was carried out in 2021 using the CATI, CAWI interview method on a random sample of 420 citizens in the West Pomeranian region in the Republic of Poland. The Chi-square test for independence was conducted. Findings: A Chi-square test of independence showed that there was no significant association between gender, level of education, marital status and experience in solving social problems. However, χ2 showed that there was a significant association between generation and experience in solving social problems. A Chi-square test of independence showed that there was no significant association between, gender, level of education, marital status, generation, and willingness to involve in solving social problems. Research limitations/implications: The pilot study has several limitations. First, the study’s regional focus limits the generalizability of its conclusions. Secondly, the small sample size constrains the statistical power and robustness of the results. Future research should consider a comparative approach across multiple regions, enabling the examination of how local contexts influence perceptions and involvement in social problem-solving. Practical implications: Presented research results can lead to making sustainable decisions by policy-makers interested in social value co-creation with citizens in order to build a smart city for current and future generations. Social implications: This paper indicates which social problems are considered as most severe by citizens and in solution of which they want to engage. Originality/value: The added value of the paper is gained knowledge on citizen’s commitment to social value co-creation.