Analysing the role of information technology towards sustainable cities living

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the pathway that leads to cities to proceeding towards urban sustainability. Design/methodology/approach This study intends to propose a theoretical analysis on the city as sustainable community that drives urban development adopting a smart vision for urban growth. Findings Cities as sustainable urban communities develop smartness as a vision for change understanding and developing the potential offered by information technology reinforcing the community by shaping collaborative governance. Research limitations/implications Cities using information technology as a source for urban sustainability develop smartness to evolve as smart communities following a managerial and organizational view towards sustainability as a source for continuous innovation and change within urban ecosystem. Originality/value Cities identify a sustainability-oriented and community-driven pathway as a vision for continuous change that helps to improve urban competitiveness, innovation and democracy ensuring high quality of life by strengthening the potential offered by technology-enabled and human-centred smartness.