Smart communities: Defining factors and the influence of team leadership on their development

The purpose of this study is to identify the variables that define a smart community environment and the level of achievement of Canadian community or regional networks. It also determines whether the level of effectiveness of the teams leading the projects has an impact on smart community achievement.; A small number of communities or regions are realizing that they must improve their telecommunication infrastructure and encourage the development of innovative online applications to encourage local or regional economic development. The 21st century's economy is heavily reliant on knowledge workers. Knowledge management has become a key area of opportunity; paired with telecommunication infrastructures can a symbiotic and synergistic relationship can develop. Telecommunication networks allow communities to import and export knowledge, to encourage innovation, and to eliminate physical borders. Smart communities create partnerships to encourage synergy between industry clusters and community or regional organizations through improved resource management. With these partnerships in place, smart communities can develop plans to involve more local users in e-projects and look for opportunities to encourage social and economic development.