Formulating Smart Good Governance Principles for Urban Management

Purpose: Smart governance is an inevitable choice for dealing with complex social environment in the modern era. It can enable optimal use of the capacities of all departments of Tehran Municipality in a crisis. Therefore, the present study aimed to formulate the principles of optimal smart governance in urban management. Methodology: In terms of objective, the present study was applied and in terms of type, it was qualitative applying a semi-structured interview tool. Participants included university professors familiar with municipality rules and smart governance topics (besides, having published articles in these fields) and senior managers of Tehran Municipality familiar with smart governance topics. They were selected to theoretical saturation. To obtain the validity and reliability of the data, we used both participant review method and Brown and Clark (2007) approach. Findings: Results show that the themes network of smart governance in urban management include smart efficiency, smart participation, transparency based on communication technology, rule of law, smart accountability, and smart justice. Based on these themes, the writers have developed a model for smart governance in urban management. Originality: So far, none of the studies conducted in Iran have focused on formulating the principles of smart governance in urban management. Whereas this study presents the framework of comprehensive smart governance in urban management in Tehran Municipality from the experts' perspective. Recommendations: It is suggested that Tehran Municipality set high-level standards in the field of smart governance and encourage self-monitoring culture in municipal activities.