Autori
Borriello, Giuseppe
Fristachi, Gaia

Titolo
The impact of Digital twins and isomorphism on Italian municipalities
Periodico
Rivista di Digital Politics
Anno: 2025 - Fascicolo: 1 - Pagina iniziale: 115 - Pagina finale: 139

The use of Digital twins (Dt) for city government and administrative management represents one of the latest frontiers in the digitization of the public sector at the international level, sparking an initial debate in Italy. The first implementations of Dt technology globally are showcasing its potential for socio-political planning, public resource management, and flow tracking, thus advancing the Smart city (Sc) paradigm. Thanks to these tools, it is possible to introduce a control by duplication of reality, enabling real-time monitoring, simulation, and optimization of policy processes. Given these substantial changes, understanding the organizational impact of Dt integration in public institutions becomes imperative. This study explores the diffusion and implementation of Dt and Sc initiatives across 112 Italian municipalities, aiming to assess whether these technologies are fostering patterns of organizational convergence in local governance, commonly conceptualized as digital isomorphism. Grounded in institutional theory and the literature on digital public administration, the analysis employs a two-pronged research approach. First, a broad media analysis – conducted via search engines such as Google and Bing – identifies public discourse around Sc and Dt initiatives. Second, this is complemented by an in-depth review of key policy documents, including the Integrated plan for organization and activity (Piano integrato di attività e organizzazione – Piao) and Single programming documents (Documento unico di programmazione – Dup), to evaluate strategic orientations and institutional engagement with digital innovation. Through qualitative content analysis using Nvivo software, the study examines how digital transformation is framed in both discourse and practice, and investigates whether this technological diffusion leads to convergence in administrative models. The findings reveal that while Sc objectives are widely referenced, the integration of Dt technologies remains limited (primarily concentrated in larger, Northern municipalities). This suggests the emergence of partial and uneven isomorphic trends, influenced by structural, political, and territorial factors. By mapping the current landscape of municipal digital innovation, the study contributes to the understanding of the dynamics, barriers, and potential of digital convergence in contemporary urban governance.



SICI: 2785-0072 (2025)1<115:TIODTA>2.0.ZU;2-N
Testo completo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/download/article/10.53227/117426
Testo completo alternativo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.53227/117426

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