The study documented in this paper has been carried out in order toacquire new knowledge concerning the development processes of smart city strategies. This aim has been achieved through the analysis of the initiatives proposed by the municipal administrations of Amsterdam and Barcelona. Two successful cases that have allowed to outline a step-by-step roadmap in which a possible approach for developing smart city strategies in large European cities is described. Despite its early stage of development, this procedure provides new knowledge, innovative research perspectives, and a conceptual framework for supporting future comparative research and theory building.Activities that are fundamental to ensure its continuous growth and the refinement of its structure