# Enhancing Smart Cities' Resilience Through Competency Assessment and Open Data Utilization
## 11 Conclusions, Limitations, and Future Work  
In conclusion, this study presents a comprehensive self-assessment tool designed to evaluate the competencies of Smart City Resilience Officers (SCROs). The tool's development was guided by the design science research (DSR) methodology, ensuring a systematic and iterative approach to addressing the identified problem. The competencies were selected based on a thorough literature review and the examination of various frameworks, aiming to bridge the gap in the current understanding of SCRO roles and responsibilities. The practical implications of this study are significant for smart city management and resilience planning. The self-assessment tool provides a structured approach for SCROs to evaluate their competencies, identify areas for improvement, and enhance their readiness for crisis management and resilience building. City managers and policymakers can use the tool to develop targeted training programs and professional development initiatives, ensuring that SCROs are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to address the complex challenges of smart city resilience. Theoretically, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on smart city resilience by providing a detailed and structured framework for evaluating SCRO competencies. The integration of the DigComp2.2 framework with resilience-specific competencies offers a novel approach to understanding the multidisciplinary approach to resilience management, emphasizing the need for SCROs to possess a diverse set of skills and knowledge. Despite the contributions of this study, several limitations should be acknowledged. First, the tool's validation was limited to a specific set of stakeholders within the consortium countries of the OpenDCO project. This may affect the generalizability of the findings to other contexts. Second, this study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to biases such as social desirability and self-perception inaccuracies. Third, the tool's focus on the DigComp2.2 framework may limit its applicability to other competency frameworks that could be relevant in different regions or contexts. Based on the findings of this study, several recommendations can be made for future research and practice. First, further validation of the self-assessment tool across diverse demographic and regional contexts is necessary to enhance its reliability, generalizability, and applicability. In addition, optimizing the tool's interface for improved user experience and engagement should be explored to maximize its effectiveness. Future studies should also examine the integration of other competency frameworks to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of SCRO competencies. Incorporating progressive training pathways--beyond a single module per competency--would enable SCROs to systematically advance from foundational to intermediate or advanced levels. The development of targeted training programs and professional development initiatives based on identified competencies can help bridge gaps between current and desired competency levels. In relation to this, research should focus on effective methods for implementing large-scale learning initiatives within a collaborative ecosystem. Developing adaptable frameworks and tools could support a European training program that empowers resilience managers, strengthens crisis response, and addresses evolving urban challenges. Additionally, investigating the tool's applicability in non-European settings by adapting its competencies and language to local governance structures and resilience needs could expand its impact globally. Finally, continuous refinement and updating of the self-assessment tool are essential to maintain its relevance in the dynamic landscape of smart city resilience. Longitudinal research could measure how repeated self-assessments correlate with actual improvements in city resilience indicators, providing concrete evidence of how competency development translates into real-world impact.