Abstract

This paper explores how digital transformation unfolds within the structurally rigid and highly institutionalized environment of Italian prison organizations. Drawing on a qualitative single-case study conducted at the Casa di Reclusione di Padova, we examine the bottom-up development and implementation of a digital registry system for managing disciplinary reports. Anchored in a sociomaterial perspective, the study highlights how even lowcomplexity technologies can generate cultural disruption, reshape organizational routines, and reconfigure authority structures. The findings show that digitalization in this context does not merely automate tasks but acts as a catalyst for new professional norms, accountability mechanisms, and forms of coordination. Through thematic analysis of interview data triangulated with internal documents, the research identifies three key dynamics: cultural adaptation through informal learning, infrastructural realignment enabling transparency and traceability, and a rearticulation of hierarchical roles mediated by technology. This study contributes to the literature on sociomateriality and public sector innovation, while also offering practical insights for designing context-sensitive digital tools in institutional settings typically resistant to change.

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