CHALLENGES, BARRIERS, AND ENABLERS FOR EFFECTIVE DATA MANAGEMENT IN SMART URBAN CITIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH FOCUS ON DEVELOPING-COUNTRY CONTEXTS

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive systematic literature review examining the challenges, barriers, and enablers affecting effective data management in smart urban cities, with particular emphasis on developing-country contexts. Through analysis of recent scholarly literature, the study identifies key infrastructural, organisational, technological, governance, and socio-economic factors that shape data management capabilities in emerging smart urban cities. Major challenges include inadequate digital infrastructure, limited technical capacity, fragmented governance structures, insufficient financial resources, and data quality issues. However, significant enablers such as stakeholder collaboration, phased implementation strategies, capacity-building initiatives, and adaptive governance frameworks offer pathways toward improved data-driven urban management. The findings reveal that successful data management in resource-constrained urban environments requires contextually appropriate approaches that balance technological ambition with practical realities. This review contributes to theoretical understanding and provides practical insights for policymakers and urban managers developing data governance frameworks in emerging smart urban cities across the Global South.