| Abstract |
Within the framework of this paper the classical approach of strategic management theory shifts its thematic focus from business organizations towards an even more complex system, namely that of cities. As a significant example of urban development approaches, the smart city model has gained large attention by policy makers around the world. In the early 2010s, both, Shanghai and Berlin, implemented their own smart city strategies with the aim of establishing themselves as the leading smart city within their country or even continent. Basing on a multi-case study approach by linking inductive (data-driven) and deductive (theory-driven) methods iteratively, a universal smart city model is developed. Secondly, a quantitative index evaluating the smartness of the case cities is created and applied. Considering the results of the smart city index, the German capital scores higher, but regarding the priorities of the smart city strategies, Shanghai outperforms Berlin. It can be concluded that a top-down approach, as applied in Shanghai, leads to higher scores in smartness if the city's priorities are considered. A hybrid form, as applied in Berlin, leads to a better ranking in general smartness. |