Thesis title: Le istituzioni museali nell’era digitale: tecnologie, comunicazione e modelli di valorizzazione. Un confronto tra Italia e Regno Unito.
The research analyses how museums and cultural institutions in Italy and the United Kingdom adopt digital communication tools and technologies for the enhancement and enjoyment of cultural heritage, with the aim of outlining comparative models of managerial and organisational innovation.
The methodology combines quantitative and qualitative approaches and is structured in three phases: a systematic review of 178 scholarly contributions published between 2019 and 2025; the construction of an original database of 7,193 cultural institutions designed to map their online presence and use of digital tools; and a survey administered to 388 museum managers, aimed at investigating the adoption of technological and digital supports for visitors.
Data analysis led to the creation of composite indices of digital adoption and digital intensity, allowing a systematic comparison between the two national contexts.
The results highlight an Italian model characterised by widespread yet fragmented experimentation and a strong dependence on public funding, contrasted with a more autonomous and structured British model. In both countries, digitalisation is perceived as a medium-term strategic driver, although Italian institutions appear more open to using digital communication tools and technologies to enhance the visitor experience.
The thesis contributes to the literature on cultural management by providing an extensive and comparative empirical framework on the relationship between digitalisation, governance, and innovation within cultural institutions.