Abstract:
Urban platforms play a significant role in the development of city resources,
addressing social and economic services and the impact on growth and pace of
urban systems. Hence, this article sought to explore the historical, dynamic and
fluid interactions of these processes to understand motives, drivers, impact and
outcomes all designed to drive long-term city development, modernisation and
social service provision. The study used mixed-methods approach, employing
both qualitative and quantitative methods. The article utilised the Complex
Systems Theory to identify regularities at the global scale and enable global
comparisons of urban platforms. It examined urban platform governance by
outlining various types of public governance and depicting the role of platforms
in this context and assessed the relevance of platforms as an emerging form of
local public governance by merging theoretical analyses and empirical views
from Gweru City. The study revealed that urban platforms concepts and
practices can help explain modern growth patterns and pace of cities. The article
also provides theoretical arguments and practical frameworks for developing
policies for urban innovative development. The work will assist local policy makers, planners and managers in understanding platform logic in the creation
of public value by involving various stakeholders.