The Swiss School of Business and Management Geneva proudly hosted another successful DBA defense at our Geneva campus. Student Hossam Mohamed Kamel Abdelgawad has officially completed the Campus DBA Geneva Program, marking a significant milestone in his academic and professional journey.
Hossam’s research, titled “Dynamic Capabilities of ICT Companies in the Smart City Field,” explored the evolving role of information and communication technology (ICT) firms in shaping and supporting smart city innovations. His dissertation provided valuable insights into how ICT companies can develop dynamic capabilities to stay competitive and drive progress in this rapidly advancing field.
The defense was conducted under the mentorship of Francesco Derchi, PhD whose guidance and expertise played a crucial role in Hossam’s academic success. The distinguished committee members, Dr. Olesya Meskina and Dr. Amira Simcox, rigorously evaluated his work, acknowledging its depth, relevance, and contribution to the industry.
We congratulate Hossam on this outstanding achievement and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.
His research exemplifies the high standards of scholarship and practical impact that the DBA program at SSBM Geneva strives to uphold.
Insights from the Chair of the Defense Committee, Dr. Olesya Meskina:
”SSBM is proud to support sustainable projects that make a change in society. The most recent defense on the campus in Geneva was held under the slogan “Reimagine the Future of Urban Cities In the rapidly evolving domain of smart cities, ICT companies serve as pivotal players in driving technological innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainable urban development. The dissertation, “Dynamic Capabilities of ICT Companies in Smart Cities,” which was presented to our defense committee that day for assessment, explored the concept of dynamic capabilities, enabling ICT firms to identify opportunities, seize them effectively, and transform their competencies to adapt to the complexities of smart city initiatives.
Image courtesy of NEOM, retrieved from https://www.neom.com/en-us/regions/oxagon. Oxagon, a revolutionary floating industrial city within NEOM, integrates cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies with sustainability principles. Powered by 100% renewable energy, Oxagon emphasizes circular economy practices, making it a global benchmark for sustainable and innovative urban industrial development (NEOM n.d.).
Dr. Kamel’s research bridges the gap between academic theory and practical implementation, offering actionable frameworks for organizations and policymakers.
Smart cities are no longer just collections of intelligent systems, but intelligent people; they embody dynamic ecosystems requiring continuous adaptation and innovation. Dr Hosam Kamel demonstrated how ICT companies leverage the dynamic capabilities—sensing, seizing, and transforming—to navigate the challenges of this evolving landscape. These capabilities ensure effective decision-making, seamless integration of disruptive technologies, and the promotion of long-term urban resilience. The study also highlighted key hindrances, such as the lack of structured approaches for evaluating these capabilities, which impact ICT companies. Additionally, it proposed solutions to enhance the potential of smart city projects by empowering ICT firms with more effective strategies and frameworks.
This research assesses the strategic positioning of ICT firms in smart cities and constructs an innovative framework for evaluating dynamic capabilities. By employing methodologies such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), the study provides an empirical foundation for measuring the readiness and adaptability of ICT companies. The Saudi Arabian context, with groundbreaking projects like NEOM and its regions—The Line, Oxagon, Magna, and Sindalah—exemplifies the significance of these capabilities for executing ambitious urban transformations. ”
