Validation of a Developed Enterprise Architecture Framework for Digitalisation of Smart Cities: a Mixed‑Mode Approach

Abstract

To support smart cities in aligning information technology (IT) and business strategies to achieve urban digitalization, this study aims to present an Enterprise Architecture Framework (EAF) to facilitate the digitalization of urban environments. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was employed to design a research model, and a mixed-mode methodology was employed. Quantitative data from survey questionnaires was used to gather data from practitioners in enterprises within Norway and Ireland that currently adopt Enterprise Architecture (EA) in a smart city project to empirically validate the developed EAF. Additionally, the developed EAF layers were validated through a qualitative focus group workshop with participants that utilize the developed EAF to provide digital services in smart cities. The findings suggest that the developed EAF can aid enterprises that provided digital services in identifying and assessing their digitalization initiatives and how EA benefits can be realized. Drawing on the TAM, the developed research model presents factors that influence practitioner’s adoption of EA towards the digitalization of urban environments. More importantly, this study provides empirically validated research on EAF adoption which is scarce.