Toward a Theory of Digital-World Urbanization

This conceptual paper proposes Digital-World Urbanization (DWU) as a theory-building framework for organizing and governing complex digital enterprises. Drawing on enterprise architecture, information-systems urbanization, digital platforms, sociotechnical systems, data governance, and AI governance, the framework models the enterprise as a digital territory inhabited by people, applications, data products, and intelligent agents. DWU introduces seven interconnected systems: territory, districts, buildings, public infrastructure, mobility, data and knowledge subsurface, and human and artificial inhabitants. It also develops the concepts of digital habitability, informal digital growth, shared infrastructure, and governed intelligent agents. The paper presents theoretical propositions, causal mechanisms, applicability conditions, and an initial research agenda for future empirical validation.