Information management practices for smart city development in Thailand

This study examines information management (IM) practices within Thailand's smart city initiatives by analyzing 28 public agencies at national and provincial levels. Drawing upon Waghmare's six-phase IM lifecycle, comprising data acquisition, analysis, organization, dissemination, access, and storage, the study employs a mixed-methods design combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights from open-ended responses. Findings reveal strengths in data analysis and storage yet highlight persistent weaknesses in data acquisition and access. Statistical analysis shows no significant correlation between an agency's understanding of smart city concepts and its IM performance, indicating that institutional structures and governance frameworks play a more pivotal role. Cluster analysis identifies three tiers of IM readiness, reflecting disparities in agency capabilities. Furthermore, information usage varies considerably across smart city domains, with Smart Environment being the most utilized and Smart Energy the least. Significant correlations were found only in the domains of Smart People (positive) and Smart Living (negative), in relation to smart city understanding. Qualitative data emphasizes the importance of open data platforms, advanced technologies, and cross-domain integration. The study offers policy recommendations focused on data architecture standardization, institutional coordination, and capacity building. It contributes to the literature on digital governance by highlighting the critical role of structured IM in enabling data-driven, inclusive, and sustainable urban development. • National smart city data policies need unified standards and architecture. • Weak IM stages limit evidence-based urban planning and public services. • Uneven IM readiness suggests targeted capacity-building by government. • Open data and interoperability are essential for citizen-centered services. • Public–private collaboration is vital for sustainable smart city ecosystems.