Smart Maturity Model for the Digital Transformation Capability of Urban Management Organizations: A Thematic Analysis Approach

Zahra  Paydar; Alireza Pourabrahimi; Mohammad Ali  Afshar Kazemi; Seyed Abdollah  Amin Mousavi

Authors

Zahra Paydar Department of Information Technology Management,Qe.C., Islamic Azad University, Qeshm, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9500-7732
Alireza Pourabrahimi Department of Industrial Management, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5741-0260
Mohammad Ali Afshar Kazemi Department of Industrial Management, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4327-8320
Seyed Abdollah Amin Mousavi Department of Management, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3052-5910

Keywords:

Smart Maturity Model, Digital Transformation Capability, Urban Management Organizations, Thematic Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a smart maturity model for the digital transformation capability of urban management organizations. From a philosophical perspective, the study was conducted within the interpretivist paradigm and followed an inductive approach. This research is classified as a qualitative study. A total of 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with university faculty members in management disciplines who had research experience or collaboration experience with urban management organizations, as well as senior managers and experts from municipalities, waste management organizations, fire departments, transportation and traffic organizations, and Islamic City Councils. Participants held at least a master's degree and possessed more than 15 years of professional experience. They were selected using purposive non-probability sampling. Based on the principle of theoretical saturation, saturation was achieved during the eighteenth interview. The required data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and data analysis was carried out using the thematic analysis method proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006). The data analysis process resulted in the identification of 7 overarching themes, 29 organizing themes, and 113 basic themes. The findings indicate that successful digital transformation in urban management organizations requires an integrated and holistic approach emerging from the interaction of seven key dimensions: human, technical, strategic, process, environmental, governance, and ecosystem dimensions. The proposed maturity model provides a comprehensive framework for assessing, planning, and implementing digital transformation, emphasizing strong governance, stakeholder engagement, and the alignment of technology with sustainable urban missions. These findings not only offer a comprehensive understanding of the smart maturity model for digital transformation capability but also contribute to the advancement of the information technology management literature.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] A. D. B. Machado, J. R. Dos Santos, A. Sacavém, and M. J. Sousa, "Digital Transformation: Management of Smart Cities," in Smart Cities and Digital Transformation: Empowering Communities, Limitless Innovation, Sustainable Development and the Next Generation: Emerald Publishing Limited, 2023, pp. 59-83.

[2] N. Komninos, C. Kakderi, A. Collado, I. Papadaki, and A. Panori, "Digital Transformation of City Ecosystems: Platforms Shaping Engagement and Externalities across Vertical Markets," in Sustainable Smart City Transitions: Routledge, 2022, pp. 91-112.

[3] O. Kuzmak, O. Kuzmak, T. Stepura, and I. Lorvi, "Digital Transformation to the Efficiency and Sustainability of Cities," in Data-Centric Business and Applications: Modern Trends in Financial and Innovation Data Processes 2024. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025, pp. 221-242.

[4] T. Afinowi, "Sustainable Urban Management through Digital Transformation and Technologies in the South: Challenges and Prospects," (in English), OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, vol. 18, no. 08, pp. 79-98, 2025.

[5] D. Hazarika and R. Oberoi, "Digital Innovations in Urban Management: Lessons from Chandigarh's Experience," (in English), International Journal of Political Science and Governance, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 312-318, 2024, doi: 10.33545/26646021.2024.v6.i1e.338.

[6] M. Javan, S. S. Seifi Sangachin, and A. Gholami, "Urban Digital Transformation: Solutions, Governance Structure, and Executive Roadmap for Modern Municipalities," ed, 2025.

[7] B. Parvin, A. Shayan, A. Pourabrahimi, and R. Radfar, "Foresight of Digital Governance toward Urban Smartization with a Sustainability Approach at the Level of National Metropolises," (in English), Journal of Information Processing and Management, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 93-124, 2024.

[8] M. Gasco-Hernandez, G. Nasi, M. Cucciniello, and A. M. Hiedemann, "The Role of Organizational Capacity to Foster Digital Transformation in Local Governments: The Case of Three European Smart Cities," (in English), Urban Governance, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 236-246, 2022.

[9] H. Ahmadi, N. Parsayi, S. H. Hashemi, and H. R. Nematollahi, "Providing a General Model for Successful Implementation of Digital Transformation in Organizations," (in English), Public Administration, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 282-315, 2024.

[10] P. Ghodousi and M. N. Eslamian, "Organizational Change Management during Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry toward Sustainable Urban Management and Development," (in English), Geography (Regional Planning), vol. 12, no. 49, pp. 374-394, 2022.

[11] B. Gholami, "Digital Transformation in Municipalities: Enhancing Services and Citizen Satisfaction," (in English), Sexual and Psychological Disorders (Pathological Psychology with Emphasis on Sexual Disorders), vol. 2, no. 2, p. e212176, 2024.

[12] N. Lafioune, A. Desmarest, É. A. Poirier, and M. St-Jacques, "Digital Transformation in Municipalities for the Planning, Delivery, Use and Management of Infrastructure Assets: Strategic and Organizational Framework," (in English), Sustainable Futures, vol. 6, p. 100119, 2023.

[13] A. Debeljak and M. Dečman, "Digital Transformation of Slovenian Urban Municipalities: A Quantitative Report on the Impact of Municipality Population Size on Digital Maturity," (in English), The NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 25-51, 2022, doi: 10.2478/nispa-2022-0012.

[14] H. Naderi Varandi, "A Comparative Study of Digital Transformation in Municipal Administrative Organizations: A Case Study of Iran and Singapore," in Twenty-Fifth National Conference on Economics, Management, and Accounting, Shirvan, 2025.

[15] R. Tavakoli Rad and F. Zargaran Khouzani, "A Successful Organizational Digital Transformation Model," in International Conference on Interdisciplinary Studies in Management and Engineering, 2022.

[16] M. Baghban Targhadari, "Examining the Effect of Open Innovation Capability on Organizational Performance Considering the Role of Digital Transformation in Organizational Management," (in English), Modern Research Approaches in Management and Accounting, vol. 7, no. 27, pp. 1568-1583, 2023.

[17] N. Lafioune, E. A. Poirier, and M. St-Jacques, "Managing Urban Infrastructure Assets in the Digital Era: Challenges of Municipal Digital Transformation," (in English), Digital Transformation and Society, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 3-22, 2024.

[18] R. Guerrero, C. Lattemann, and P. Gebbing, "Helping Personal Service Firms to Cope with Digital Transformation: Evaluation of a Digitalization Maturity Model," (in English), vol. 15, pp. 1-32, 2023, doi: 10.17705/1pais.15201.

[19] S. Tiss and M. Orellano, "A Maturity Model of Digital Transformation in Supply Chains: A Multi-Dimensional Approach," 2023, doi: 10.1109/it57431.2023.10078510.

[20] Y. Han, H. Du, and C. Zhao, "Development of a Digital Transformation Maturity Model for the Construction Industry," (in English), Engineering Construction and Architectural Management, 2024, doi: 10.1108/ecam-10-2023-1009.

[21] H. R. Aboutalebi and S. Ajoudanian, "Digital Transformation Capability Maturity Model in Smart City (SC-DT-CMM)," in Sixth National Conference on Advances in Enterprise Architecture, Tehran, 2022.

[22] S. Ajoudanian and H. R. Aboutalebi, "A Capability Maturity Model for Smart City Process-Aware Digital Transformation," (in English), Journal of Urban Management, 2025.

[23] L. Veshnaveh, S. Mohammad Esmaeil, and F. Nooshinfard, "A Proposed Digital Transformation Capability Maturity Model for Karaj Municipality Using the Fuzzy Delphi Approach," (in English), Information Management, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-14, 2023.

[24] L. Veshnaveh, S. Mohamad Esmaeel, and F. Nooshinfard, "Identification and Maturity Dimensions of Digital Transformation of Urban Management Organizations: A Meta-Composite Study," (in English), Strategic Studies of Public Policy, vol. 14, no. 50, pp. 146-164, 2024.

[25] L. Veshnaveh, S. Mohammadesmaeil, and F. Nooshinfar, "Dimensions of Digital Transformation Maturity in Urban Management Organizations," (in English), Journal Strategic Studies of Public Policy, vol. 14, no. 50, 2024.

[26] Y. Modarresi, M. A. Seyed Naghavi, H. Roudsaz, and I. Raeisi Vanani, "Identifying Soft Components of Digital Transformation and Designing Their Conceptual Framework Using Thematic Analysis and Interpretive Structural Modeling," (in English), Journal of Information Processing and Management, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 1063-1107, 2024.

[27] S. H. Vares, N. Haji Heydari, and M. Kargar Shouraki, "Interpretive Structural Modeling of Factors Affecting Organizational Sustainability in the Era of Digital Transformation: The Automotive Industry," (in English), Journal of Iranian Management Sciences Association, vol. 19, no. 74, pp. 147-194, 2024.

[28] A. Manco Zapata and I. R. Cortes Gómez, "Diagnosing the Impact of Digital Transformation on the Human Talent of SMEs in Bogotá, Colombia," (in English), Cuadernos de Administración (Universidad del Valle), vol. 39, no. 75, 2023.

[29] M. Slavković, K. Pavlović, T. Mamula Nikolić, T. Vučenović, and M. Bugarčić, "Impact of Digital Capabilities on Digital Transformation: The Mediating Role of Digital Citizenship," (in English), Systems, vol. 11, no. 4, p. 172, 2023.

[30] X. Jia, B. Xie, and X. Y. Wang, "The Impact of Network Infrastructure on Enterprise Digital Transformation: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from the Broadband China Strategy," (in English), Applied Economics, vol. 56, pp. 1363-1380, 2023.