How do boundary objects influence people-centered smart cities? A systematic literature review

Gabriella Esposito; Alberto Bertello; Luca Mora; David Tucek

doi:10.1007/s11846-025-00835-8

journal article Open Access Jan 15, 2025

How do boundary objects influence people-centered smart cities? A systematic literature review

Gabriella Esposito

Alberto Bertello

Luca Mora

David Tucek

Review of Managerial Science Vol. 20 No. 2 pp. 617-648 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

View at Publisher Save 10.1007/s11846-025-00835-8

Abstract

Abstract
This study explores the critical role of boundary objects in the context of people-centred smart cities, a new paradigm in urban development that emphasises citizen participation in planning and decision-making. Boundary objects—artefacts, documents, or concepts that facilitate communication and collaboration across different knowledge domains—are increasingly recognized as essential tools in the complex, multi-stakeholder environment of urban governance. Despite extensive research on boundary objects in organizational contexts, their specific application in smart cities remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating how BOs, particularly collaborative tools and spaces, contribute to innovation, engagement, and knowledge-sharing in people-centred smart cities. Employing a Systematic Literature Review following the PRISMA protocol, this research synthesizes key insights from scholarly articles to comprehensively understand boundary objects' role in urban governance. This study offers a theoretical framework for leveraging boundary objects to enhance the inclusivity and sustainability of smart cities. It suggests avenues for future research, including empirical validation and exploration of boundary objects in diverse geographic and cultural contexts.

Topics

No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →

References

187

[1]

Abella A, Ortiz-de-Urbina-Criado M, De-Pablos-Heredero C (2017) A model for the analysis of data-driven innovation and value generation in smart cities’ ecosystems. Cities 64:47–53 10.1016/j.cities.2017.01.011

[2]

Akande A, Cabral P, Casteleyn S (2020) Understanding the sharing economy and its implication on sustainability in smart cities. J Clean Prod 277:124077 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124077

[3]

Alberti FG, Pizzurno E (2017) Oops, i did it again! Knowledge leaks in open innovation networks with start-ups. Eur J Innov Manag 20(1):50–79. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-11-2015-0116 10.1108/ejim-11-2015-0116

[4]

Smart Cities: Definitions, Dimensions, Performance, and Initiatives

Vito Albino, Umberto Berardi, Rosa Maria Dangelico

Journal of Urban Technology 2015 10.1080/10630732.2014.942092

[5]

Living Labs: arbiters of mid- and ground-level innovation

Esteve Almirall, Jonathan Wareham

Technology Analysis & Strategic Management 2011 10.1080/09537325.2011.537110

[6]

Archer, Jacques R, Powell JA (1981) A view of the nature of the design research. 30–47

[7]

Arellano-Gault D, Demortain D, Rouillard C, Thoenig J-C (2013) Bringing public organization and organizing back in. Organ Stud 34(2):145–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840612473538 10.1177/0170840612473538

[8]

Bagherzadeh M, Markovic S, Bogers M (2021) Managing open innovation: a project-level perspective. IEEE Trans Eng Manag 68(1):301–316. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2019.2949714 10.1109/tem.2019.2949714

[9]

Balestrini M, Rogers Y, Hassan C, Creus J, King M, Marshall P (2017) A city in common: a framework to orchestrate large-scale citizen engagement around urban issues. In: Proceedings of the 2017 CHI conference on human factors in computing systems, 2282–2294. https://doi.org/10.1145/3025453.3025915 10.1145/3025453.3025915

[10]

Baregheh A, Rowley J, Sambrook S (2009) Towards a multidisciplinary definition of innovation. Manag Decis 47(8):1323–1339. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740910984578 10.1108/00251740910984578

[11]

Barrutia JM, Echebarria C, Aguado-Moralejo I, Apaolaza-Ibáñez V, Hartmann P (2022) Leading Smart City projects: government dynamic capabilities and public value creation. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 179:121679 10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121679

[12]

Batista M, Goyannes Gusmão Caiado R, Gonçalves Quelhas OL, Brito Alves Lima G, Leal Filho W, Rocha Yparraguirre IT (2021) A framework for sustainable and integrated municipal solid waste management: barriers and critical factors to developing countries. J Clean Prod 312:127516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127516 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127516

[13]

Batty M (2013) Big data, smart cities and city planning. Dialogues Hum Geogr 3(3):274–279. https://doi.org/10.1177/2043820613513390 10.1177/2043820613513390

[14]

Bayazit N (2004) Investigating design: a review of forty years of design research. Des Issues 20(1):16–29 10.1162/074793604772933739

[15]

Beckers D, Gerli P, Mora L (2023) Managing Smart City governance–a playbook for local and regional governments (UN-Habitat HS/060/20E). United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

[16]

Behl A, Jayawardena N, Pereira V, Islam N, Del Giudice M, Choudrie J (2022) Gamification and e-learning for young learners: a systematic literature review, bibliometric analysis, and future research agenda. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 176:121445 10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121445

[17]

Benn S, Martin A (2010) Learning and change for sustainability reconsidered: a role for boundary objects. Acad Manag Learn Educ 9(3):397–412. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.9.3.zqr397 10.5465/amle.9.3.zqr397

[18]

Benn S, Edwards M, Angus-Leppan T (2013) Organizational learning and the sustainability community of practice: the role of boundary objects. Organ Environ 26(2):184–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026613489559 10.1177/1086026613489559

[19]

Bergvall-Kareborn B, Stahlbrost A (2009) Living lab: an open and citizen-centric approach for innovation. Int J Innov Reg Dev 1(4):356–370. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJIRD.2009.022727 10.1504/ijird.2009.022727

[20]

Bernardi M, Diamantini D (2018) Shaping the sharing city: an exploratory study on Seoul and Milan. J Clean Prod 203:30–42 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.132

[21]

Bertello A, Bogers MLAM, De Bernardi P (2022) Open innovation in the face of the COVID-19 grand challenge: insights from the Pan-European hackathon ‘EUvsVirus.’ R&D Manag 52(2):178–192. https://doi.org/10.1111/radm.12456 10.1111/radm.12456

[22]

Bhimani H, Mention A-L, Barlatier P-J (2019) Social media and innovation: a systematic literature review and future research directions. Technol Forecast Soc Change 144:251–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.10.007 10.1016/j.techfore.2018.10.007

[23]

Boland RJ, Tenkasi RV (1995) Perspective making and perspective taking in communities of knowing. Organ Sci 6(4):350–372 10.1287/orsc.6.4.350

[24]

Bouncken RB, Fredrich V (2016) Learning in coopetition: alliance orientation, network size, and firm types. J Bus Res 69(5):1753–1758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.050 10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.050

[25]

Bresciani S, Ferraris A, Del Giudice M (2018) The management of organizational ambidexterity through alliances in a new context of analysis: Internet of Things (IoT) Smart City projects. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 136:331–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.03.002 10.1016/j.techfore.2017.03.002

[26]

The Design and Implementation of Cross‐Sector Collaborations: Propositions from the Literature

John M. Bryson, Barbara C. Crosby, Melissa Middleton Stone

Public Administration Review 2006 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2006.00665.x

[27]

Caccamo M, Pittino D, Tell F (2023) boundary objects, knowledge integration, and innovation management: a systematic review of the literature. Technovation 122:102645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2022.102645 10.1016/j.technovation.2022.102645

[28]

Camboim GF, Zawislak PA, Pufal NA (2019) Driving elements to make cities smarter: evidences from European projects. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 142:154–167 10.1016/j.techfore.2018.09.014

[29]

Cardullo P, Kitchin R (2019) Being a ‘citizen’ in the Smart City: up and down the scaffold of smart citizen participation in Dublin. Ireland Geojournal 84(1):1–13 10.1007/s10708-018-9845-8

[30]

Centobelli P, Cerchione R, Chiaroni D, Del Vecchio P, Urbinati A (2020) Designing business models in circular economy: a systematic literature review and research agenda. Bus Strateg Environ 29(4):1734–1749. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2466 10.1002/bse.2466

[31]

Chauhan C, Parida V, Dhir A (2022) Linking circular economy and digitalisation technologies: a systematic literature review of past achievements and future promises. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 177:121508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121508 10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121508

[32]

Chesbrough HW (2003) Open innovation: the new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Harvard Business Press, Brighton

[33]

Chesbrough H (2004) Managing open innovation. Res Technol Manag 47(1):23–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/08956308.2004.11671604 10.1080/08956308.2004.11671604

[34]

Chesbrough H, Vanhaverbeke W, West J (2006) Open innovation: researching a new paradigm. OUP, Oxford 10.1093/oso/9780199290727.001.0001

[35]

Christensen CM, Baumann H, Ruggles R, Sadtler TM (2006) Disruptive innovation for social change. Harvard Bus Rev 84(12):94–101

[36]

Christensen C, Raynor M, McDonald R (2017) What is disruptive innovation? Harvard business review. https://hbr.Org/2015/12/what-is-disruptive-innovation>, 5(5)

[37]

Christofi M, Vrontis D, Thrassou A, Shams SR (2019) Triggering technological innovation through cross-border mergers and acquisitions: a micro-foundational perspective. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 146:148–166 10.1016/j.techfore.2019.05.026

[38]

Coenen L, Hansen T, Rekers JV (2015) Innovation policy for grand challenges. An economic geography perspective. Geogr Compass 9(9):483–496. https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12231 10.1111/gec3.12231

[39]

Cohen A (2012) Rescaling environmental governance: watersheds as boundary objects at the intersection of science, neoliberalism, and participation. Environ Plann Econ Space 44(9):2207–2224. https://doi.org/10.1068/a44265 10.1068/a44265

[40]

Correia D, Vagos C, Marques JL, Teixeira L (2024) Fulfilment of last-mile urban logistics for sustainable and inclusive smart cities: a case study conducted in Portugal. Int J Log Res Appl 27(6):931–958. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2022.2130211 10.1080/13675567.2022.2130211

[41]

Curşeu PL, Semeijn JH, Nikolova I (2021) Career challenges in smart cities: a sociotechnical systems view on sustainable careers. Hum Relat 74(5):656–677. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726720949925 10.1177/0018726720949925

[42]

Dameri RP, Ricciardi F (2015) Smart City intellectual capital: an emerging view of territorial systems innovation management. J Intellect Cap 16(4):860–887. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-02-2015-0018 10.1108/jic-02-2015-0018

[43]

Dar S (2018) De-colonizing the boundary-object. Organ Stud 39(4):565–584. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840617708003 10.1177/0170840617708003

[44]

A Dynamic Perspective on Collaborative Innovation for Smart City Development: The role of uncertainty, governance, and institutional logics

Sharon A. M. Dolmans, Wouter P. L. van Galen, Bob Walrave et al.

Organization Studies 2023 10.1177/01708406231169422

[45]

Döring M, Ratter B (2015) ‘Heimat’ as a boundary object? Exploring the potentialities of a boundary object to instigate productive science-stakeholder interaction in North Frisia (Germany). Environ Sci Policy 54:448–455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2015.08.009 10.1016/j.envsci.2015.08.009

[46]

Dos Santos RP (2017) On the philosophy of bitcoin/blockchain technology: is it a chaotic, complex system? Metaphilosophy 48(5):620–633. https://doi.org/10.1111/meta.12266 10.1111/meta.12266

[47]

Du J, Leten B, Vanhaverbeke W (2014) Managing open innovation projects with science-based and market-based partners. Res Policy 43(5):828–840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2013.12.008 10.1016/j.respol.2013.12.008

[48]

Dupont L, Morel L, Guidat C (2015) Innovative public-private partnership to support Smart City: the case of “Chaire REVES.” J Strateg Manag 8(3):245–265. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-03-2015-0027 10.1108/jsma-03-2015-0027

[49]

Echebarria C, Barrutia JM, Aguado-Moralejo I (2021) The Smart City journey: a systematic review and future research agenda. Innov Eur J Soc Sci Res 34(2):159–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2020.1785277 10.1080/13511610.2020.1785277

[50]

Edler J, Ruhlandt RWS, Hommen (2005). Innovation and public procurement. Review of Issues at Stake

Showing 50 of 187 references

Metrics

4

Citations

187

References

Details

Published: Jan 15, 2025
Vol/Issue: 20(2)
Pages: 617-648
License: View

Authors

Cite This Article

Gabriella Esposito, Alberto Bertello, Luca Mora, et al. (2025). How do boundary objects influence people-centered smart cities? A systematic literature review. Review of Managerial Science, 20(2), 617-648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-025-00835-8

How do boundary objects influence people-centered smart cities? A systematic literature review

You May Also Like