ABSTRACT
As mentioned in previous chapters, emerging initiatives in the KBD fi eld, in which cities are depicted as intelligent, connected and networked units of analysis, are becoming the focus of interest of a much wider group of professional communities, contributing to city analysis and benchmarking at the international level. In this context, there have been numerous attempts to generate awareness on international networks’ relational capital. An effective way of creating synergies within such international communities and networks of practice has been the consultation of city benchmarking. By using knowledge-based development frameworks, knowledge-based Communities of Practice (CoPs) and Networks of Practice (NoPs) have started a modern tradition (Beaverstock et al., 1998) seeking to gather consensus on KBD practices to identify and recognize best practices in a number of aspects of urban communities: economic competitiveness, entrepreneurial activity, environmental sustainability, freedom of expression, e-government initiatives or innovation (Kriščiūnas & Daugeliene, 2006). Hence, a stream of awards of different nature are being presented to cities: Global Location Attractiveness Ranking, Global Competitiveness Report, Best Business Environment, Transparency International, Intellectual Property Rights Protection, Most Globalized Nation in the World, Green City, Innovative City, Most Network-Ready City and Most Walkable City in the World, just to name a few. This chapter introduces the case of the Most Admired Knowledge City Award (MAKCi) consultation exercise, which aims to bring a practical application of a purpose-built framework (CS) for city benchmarking purposes. It stems from recent research on knowledge city index pursuits, built on data available on urban communities. The chapter depicts emerging knowledge value-creation assumptions to identify city benchmarking potential and uses in the MAKCi consultation exercise as a practical example of value-based indicator construction.
