Policy Research Project: Course Description
Managing Smart & Resilient Cities
Sherri Greenberg
2021–22
(This course will satisfy an Advanced Public Management requirement or Elective requirement, and a PRP requirement. Students taking it to satisfy Advanced Public Management, may take Public Management concurrently)
Managing cities to be smart and resilient is complex in an ever evolving world. Changes are occurring in our environment, society, technology, and work.
People use the terms smart city and resilient city widely, and often, interchangeably. Generally, the smart city and resilient city definitions involve new technologies, management processes, and engagement practices for sustainable and equitable service provision to improve residents' quality of life. A smart and resilient city must consider equity issues, and economic disparities. Of course, a smart and resilient city also is cognizant of privacy and cybersecurity issues.
In this Policy Research Project Class we will delve into questions and topics in the fall including the following: What is a smart and resilient city? How do you manage for smart and resilient cities? What roles do technology, equity, inclusion, performance measurement, and other factors play?
Managing technology implementation including artificial intelligence, privacy implications, and transparency
Managing for cybersecurity with technologies, such as ransomware attacks an breaches
Managing for the future of work and the work environment both within city governments, and in cities generally including hybrid work, space configurations, and other changes
Managing for equity and inclusion including digital inclusion
Managing for sustainability and disasters including: power, water, food, transportation & housing & health
Managing with performance management and measurement
Managing purchasing and permitting requirements
During the fall, we also will have some class speakers, and site visits. Additionally, we will explore students' research interests for the spring research projects. During the spring students will work with clients in teams on several different research projects.
The primary work products will include case studies and memos, and briefing papers and presentations to the clients. Students will learn and use methods such as structured interviews, design thinking, literature reviews, and devising dashboards and performance metrics.