Prioritizing Sustainable Digital Transformation Strategies for a Smart, Green, and Participatory Bahçelievler Municipality

Abstract

In his work "Crises of Desperation" (originally: “Darlık Buhranları”) Sabri Ülgener argues that indecision is a characteristic present throughout human history. Decision-making is often described as choosing between alternative paths. In this case, the process of selecting among alternative options, alternative paths, methods, tactics, and plans is achieved by optimizing certain criteria. Sometimes the lowest cost is important, while other times time, production quantity, or even color preferences—subjective objective values converted into quantifiable values—can be the determining factor. This study aims to identify the type of strategy that should be determined for a sustainable digital transformation in Bahçelievler district, one of the municipalities of Istanbul. Based on the criteria for digital transformation in the public sector, developed using AHP, a rating was performed among the main dimensions of similar criteria using the CRITIC method, and then strategy selection was carried out using the PROMETHEE method. The study was reviewed by 12 experts who worked at Bahçelievler Municipality, and recommendations were made based on these evaluations. According to CRITIC analysis, Technical Infrastructure is the most important criterion with in the 5 criteria and the strrategy of “Digital Participation and Social Municipality Model” is the most advantage policy fort he manucipality. The results have been discussed and given recommandations to the Bahçelievler digitalization contributers.