This study is based on the following question: why are cities go towards digitalization? To answer this question, it considers managerial contingency theory to explain variations in the use and application of smart technologies in smart cities. To test this theory, the study is based on a sample of 200 medium sized municipalities, i.e. with a population of 40,000/60,000 inhabitants. The results of this study show that there is a correlation between the use/application of smart technologies in smart cities and contingency. The latter is related to the context, constraints and managerial incentives, i.e. funding, technical assistance and branding that characterise one city rather than another. The aforementioned contingencies may have statistically positive effects on the application of smart technologies. Conversely, statistically negative effects will occur if we are faced with circumstances in which there is little technological knowledge and leadership capacity.