This thesis addresses this gap by developing a holistic, context-sensitive and tool-based digital maturity model tailored to Swiss city administrations.

Following a Design Science Research approach, the study combines a literature review, a comparative analysis of existing digital maturity models and insights from expert interviews with academics, consultants and city practitioners. Based on these inputs, the development resulted in a digital maturity model tailored to Swiss city administrations that was operationalised on the ABILI platform. The model comprises eight dimensions and 40 categories, operationalised through 160 indicators and complemented by organisational profiles, roles, a repository of transformation challenges, maturity clusters and a mapping logic that enables context-sensitive and differentiated assessment.The model is evaluated through a pilot assessment with a Swiss city administration and a post-pilot assessment survey, focusing on relevance, clarity, usability and contextual fit, as well as through a scientific positioning against digital maturity model criteria. The evaluation indicates that the assessment content is perceived as relevant and understandable and that the tool-supported, role-differentiated logic enables structured reflection. At the same time, it highlights a practical trade-off between comprehensive coverage and assessment length and points to the need for clearer introductory guidance.

The thesis contributes to research by demonstrating how context sensitivity, organisational profiles and role differentiation can be systematically integrated into the design of a digital maturity model for Swiss city administrations. Practically, it provides an operational assessment instrument that supports structured reflection on digital transformation. Future research should extend empirical application to additional cities, refine usability-related aspects and further connect assessment outputs with subsequent transformation steps on the ABILI platform.