Developing a framework for smart city planning in China: An action research approach

China has long been using a planned economy that involves all aspects of economic, social and political development in China. Having been appointed to develop a 5-Year Plan for two important cities in China, and faced with the absence of an adequate approach, the authors developed a smart city development planning framework (SCDP) using an action research approach that comprised two full cycles of research. This paper presents this methodology and discusses the action research process used. The SCDP will interest practitioners and academics and aims to be a first step in a new area of very difficult research and increasing in complexity. This paper reports on lessons learned when preparing and planning for the 13th 5-Year Plan released in 2016. The findings and methodology presented are very topical, as all Chinese cities are now starting to prepare for the next 5-Year planning process that start in 2020.