LEADERSHIP IN LOCAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. INNOVATION AND DIGITALIZATION IN SMART CITIES

Abstract

: The institutional, economic and technological transformations of recent decades have led to a redefinition of the role of local public administration and the way in which public leaders manage governance processes. In this context, public leadership becomes an essential factor for institutional modernization, community development and the implementation of digital innovation in the public sector. The purpose of this article is to analyze the role of leadership in local public administration, with a focus on contemporary models of strategic, collaborative and digital leadership. The research methodology is based on the qualitative analysis of the specialized literature in the field of public administration and the case study method applied to the municipality of Oradea, one of the relevant examples of implementation of the smart city concept in Romania. The case study demonstrates that digitalisation projects and smart city initiatives can generate significant institutional transformations when supported by political leaders capable of facilitating cooperation between the administration, the private sector and civil society. The conclusions underline the importance of developing the strategic, digital and collaborative skills of public leaders to adapt public administration to the challenges of the digital society.