Smarter NYC: How City Agencies Innovate in a Time of Crises

As COVID-19 and other crises spread across the world, how can cities and city agencies adapt?

Created by the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Smarter NYC examines how pandemic crisis management can be used to better understand innovation in city agencies. This original case study features the New York City Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Education, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Economic Development Corporation. Including interviews with city leaders and outside experts, it explores what drives innovation in the public sector.

Find companion case study documents and teaching notes on the Columbia SIPA website, and check out Smarter New York City: How City Agencies Innovate, the foundational 2018 textbook that launched SIPA's "smarter cities" initiative.