An ISM-MICMAC Approach to Identifying Barriers Hindering Smart Community Governance in China

Abstract

Abstract Smart community governance (SCG) has encountered significant barriers, hindering the digitalization process inherent to modern communities. Nevertheless, current research lacks a comprehensive analysis of the barriers hindering the SCG and their interrelationships, thereby complicating the identification of targeted strategies to improve the SCG’s capacities. This study aims to clarify these barriers and their interrelationships and to propose strategies to enhance SCG levels. To achieve this, a hybrid method was developed to analyze the barriers by integrating interpretative structural modeling (ISM) and matrix cross-impact multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) approach. The 18 key barriers hindering the SCG were first identified through a systematic literature review and expert interviews. Then, a five-layer hierarchical structure was established to explain the complex interrelationships among these barriers, and their driving and dependence powers were demonstrated using the ISM-MICMAC method. The findings highlight that the bias in government decision-making is the most significant barrier hindering the SCG. Accordingly, 17 targeted strategies were proposed, offering valuable insights for addressing the barriers effectively. This study not only enriches the existing body of knowledge on the SCG but also offers actionable guidance for decision makers to advance the development of SCG, highlighting a globally applicable approach to understanding and addressing the barriers hindering SCG.