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Agostino Deborah

Professore Associato

Agostino Deborah

Professore Associato

Deborah Agostino is Associate Professor at Politecnico di Milano and Adjunct Professor at the City University of Hong Kong. Her academic expertise spans public sector accounting, digital transformation, and cultural heritage management. At Politecnico di Milano, she directs the Executive Master in Management of Cultural Institutions and directs the Observatory of Digital Innovation in Culture. She has served in key institutional roles, including Delegate of the Management Academy and of the Institutions & Public Administration Unit at POLIMI Graduate School of Management, overseeing executive education programs.

Her research focuses on how digital innovation - including artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and digital data - shapes accountability, performance, and service delivery in public and cultural organizations. Her work has been published in leading academic journals in the public management and accounting/accountability field, and has informed national governments, and cultural institutions.

She is a Board Member of the International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM) and Co-Chair of the Public Service Accounting and Accountability Special Interest Group (PSAAG), actively contributing to international academic dialogue on innovation and accountability in the public sector. She is Associate Editor of European Management Journal and serves as a member in several editorial boards. She has supervised several PhD projects in collaboration with international institutions and actively contributes to joint academic-industry research initiatives.

Carriera

PHD: Management Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano

Master of Science: Management Engineering, Politecnico di Milano

Ricerca

Her research interests are in the field of management accounting in public sector and cultural institutions, with a particular focus on digital technology and its implications for management accounting.

One major research stream investigates the potentialities and risks of integrating social media and web-based data in performance measurement systems of cultural institutions.

A further research stream focuses on the challenges of digital technologies for public sector and cultural institutions.

Pubblicazioni Selezionate

  1. Agostino, D. and Thomasson, A., (forthcoming) “Translating Social Sustainability: Contextualising Reporting Practices in European Football Clubs”, Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal
  2. Agostino, D., Lorenço, R, Jorge, S., Bracci, E., and Cruz, I. (2025), “Editorial: Data science and financial information in the public sector—challenges for accounting and accountability”, Public Money and Management , 10.1080/09540962.2025.2550901
  3. Agostino, D., Lorenço, R, Jorge, S., Bracci, E., and Cruz, I. (2025), “Data Science and Public Sector Accounting: Reviewing Impacts on Reporting, Auditing, and Accountability Practices”, Public Money and Management , http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2025.2529266.
  4. Agostino, D. (2025). “Competitive and polyphonic reactivity to accountability pressures in digital public sector reporting: insights from Italian state museums”; International Journal of Public Sector Management , Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-12-2023-0384
  5. Rubino, F., Agostino, D., and Spallazzo, D. (2024), "Strategizing blockchain adoption in public cultural services: a comprehensive scoping review", International Journal of Public Sector Management , Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-12-2023-0383
  6. Aquino, A.C.B.D., Agostino, D., and Querini, L. (2024), “The typology of drones-based initiatives by Italian museums”, Museum Management and Curatorship , https://doi.org/10.1080/09647775.2024.2375977
  7. Agostino, D. (2024), “COVID-19 and the economic sustainability of Italian museums: can digital technologies enhance new revenue models?” Museum Management and Curatorship , DOI:10.1080/09647775.2023.2297352
  8. Agostino, D. and Thomasson, A. (2023), “NPOs and private governance forms for football clubs: towards a blended model”, Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal , Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-06-2022-5873
  9. Agostino, D., Bracci, E., Cruiz, I., Jorge, S., Lopes Cardoso, R., and Lorenço, R. (2023), “Debate: Data science challenges to financial information in the public sector, Public Money & Management , 43:8, 773-776, DOI: 10.1080/09540962.2023.2221526
  10. Marini, C., Agostino, D. and Simoni, L. (2022), “Co-Creating History: The Case of WORTHY as a Virtual Collaborative Museum”, Journal of Museum Education , 47(3), pp. 385-394
  11. Riva, P., and Agostino, D. (2022), “Latent dimensions of museum experience: assessing cross-cultural perspectives of visitors from tripadvisor reviews”, Museum Management and Curatorship , https://doi.org/10.1080/09647775.2022.2073560
  12. Agostino, D., Bracci, E., and Steccolini, I. (2022), “Accounting and accountability for the digital transformation of public services”, Financial Accountability and Management , 38(2), pp. 141-151
  13. Agostino, D.; Brambilla, M.; Pavanetto, S.; Riva, P. (2021), “The Contribution of Online Reviews for Quality Evaluation of Cultural Tourism Offers: The Experience of Italian Museums.” Sustainability 2021, 13, 13340. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313340
  14. Agostino, D., Saliterer, I., and Steccolini, I., “Digitalization, accounting and accountability: A literature review and reflections on future research in public services”, Financial Accountability and Management , 38(2), pp. 152-176.
  15. Agostino, D., and Costantini, C. (2021), “A measurement framework for assessing the digital transformation of cultural institutions: the Italian case”, Meditari Accountancy Research , 10.1108/MEDAR-02-2021-1207
  16. Agostino, D. (2021), “Resource Management for Colleges and Universities. William F.Massy John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, 2020. 352 pages, $44.95”, Higher Education Quarterly , 75(4), pp. 688-692
  17. Marini, C. and Agostino, D. (2021), “Humanized museums? How digital technologies become relational tools”, Museum Management and Curatorship , DOI: 10.1080/09647775.2021.1969677
  18. Agostino, D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2020), “From preservation to entertainment: accounting for the transformation of participation in Italian state museums”, Accounting History , https://doi.org/10.1177/1032373220934893
  19. Agostino, D., Arnaboldi, M., and Lampis, A. (2020), “Italian state museums during the COVID-19 crisis: from onsite closure to online openness”, Museum Management and Curatorship , https://doi.org/10.1080/09647775.2020.1790029
  20. Agostino, D., Arnaboldi, M., and Diaz Lema, M. (2020), “COVID-19 as an accelerator of digital transformation in public service delivery”, Public Money and Management , https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2020.1764206
  21. Agasisti, T., Agostino, D., and Soncin, M. (2019), “Implementing Performance Measurement Systems in Local Governments: Moving from the “How” to the “Why””, Public Performance and Management Review , https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2019.1700806
  22. Agostino, D., Arnaboldi, M., and Calissano, A. (2019), “How to quantify social media influencers: An empirical application at the Teatro alla Scala, Heliyon ,5(5), pp. 1-7
  23. Agostino, D. (2018), “Can Twitter Add to Performance Evaluation in the Area of Performing Arts? Reflections from La Scala Opera House”, Journal of Arts Management Law and Society , Vol. 48, No.5, pp. 321-338
  24. Agostino. D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2018), “Performance Measurement Systems in Public Service Networks. The What, Who and How of Control”, Financial Accountability and Management , Vol. 34 No.2, pp. 103-116
  25. Agostino, D. and Sidorova, Y. (2017), “How social media reshapes action on distant customers: some empirical evidence”, Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal , Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 777-794
  26. Agostino, D., Arnaboldi, M. and Dal Molin, M. (2017), “Critical crossroads to explain network change: evidence from a goal directed network”, International Journal of Public Sector Management , Vol. 17 No.3, pp. 255-269
  27. Agostino, D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2017), “Rational and ritualistic use of key performance indicators in hybrid organizations”, Public Money and Management , Vol. 37 No.6, pp.409-416
  28. Agostino, D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2017), “Social media data used in the measurement of public service effectiveness: empirical evidence from Twitter in higher education institutions", Public Policy & Administration , Vol.32 No.4, pp. 296-322.
  29. Agostino, D., Arena, M., Catalano, G. and Erbacci, A. (2017), “Public engagement through social media: the spending review experience”, Public Money and Managemen , Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 55-62
  30. Agostino, D. and Dal Molin, M. (2016), “A grid approach to managing sustainability: evidence from a multiple Italian case study”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education , Vol. 17, No. 6, pp.875 - 894
  31. Agostino, D. and Sidorova, Y. (2016), “A performance measurement system to quantify the contribution of social media: new requirements for metrics and methods”, Measuring Business Excellence , Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 1-21
  32. Agostino, D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2016), “A Measurement Framework for Assessing the Contribution of Social Media to Public Engagement: An empirical analysis on Facebook”, Public Management Review , Vol. 18 No.9, pp. 1289-1307
  33. Agostino, D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2015), “How Performance Measurement Systems support managerial actions in networks: evidence from an Italian case study”, Public Organization Review , Vol. 15 No.1, pp. 117-137
  34. Agostino, D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2015), “The New Public Management in hybrid settings: new challenges for performance measures”, International Review of Public Administration , Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 353-369
  35. Agostino, D., Arnaboldi, M., DeBruijn, H. and Steenhuisen, B. (2014), “PMS development in local public transport: comparing Milan and Amsterdam”, Transport Policy , Vol. 33, pp.26-32
  36. Agostino, D. and Lapsley, I. (2013), “City: charity partnerships and the financial crisis- Case study evidence”, Public Management Review , Vol 15 No.5, pp.633-656
  37. Agostino, D., Arena, M. and Arnaboldi, M. (2013), “Leading change in public organizations: the role of mediators”, Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 34 No.7, pp. 596-615
  38. Agostino, D. (2013), “Using social media to engage citizens: a study of Italian municipalities”, Public Relations Review , Vol. 39 No.3, pp.232-234
  39. Agostino, D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2012), “Design issues in the BSC: the “what” and “how” of control”, European Management Journal , Vol. 30 No.4, pp.327-339
  40. Agostino, D., Arena, M., Azzone, G., Dal Molin, M. and Masella, C. (2012), “Developing a performance Measurement system for public research centres”, International Journal of business science & applied management , Vol. 7 No.1, pp. 43-60
  41. Agostino, D. (2012), “The effectiveness of social software for public engagement”, International Journal of Engineering Business Management , Vol. 4 No.1, art.31, pp. 1-10
  42. Agostino, D. and Arnaboldi, M. (2011), “How the BSC implementation process shapes its outcome”, International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management , Vol. 60 No.2, pp.99-114

Premi e riconoscimenti

2016 Highly cited research" dalla rivista Public Relations Review con il paper: “Using Social Media to engage citizens: A study of Italian municipalities”


2017 Medaglia del Presidente della Repubblica Sergio Mattarella quale suo Premio di Rappresentanza” per l'organizzazione della conferenza internazionale “EGPA 2017” (European Group of Public Administration) tenuta presso il Politecnico di Milano nel 2017


2018 Best Paper Awardnella rivista "Financial Accountability and Management". con il paper: “Performance Measurement Systems in public service networks: the what, who and how of control”.


2021 Top 10 most downloaded article sulla rivista "Public Money & Management con il paper“New development: COVID-19 as an accelerator of digital transformation in public service delivery”.


2022 Top cited article 2021-2022 sulla rivista "Financial Accountability and Management" con il paper: "Digitalization, accounting and accountability: A literature review and reflections on future research in public services" Note del riconoscimento: "top cited paper among the papers published between 1 January 2021 - 15 December 2022".


Servizio alla comunità

Associate Editor, European Management Journal

Board Member, International Research Society of Public Management (IRSPM)

Board Member, Public Service Accounting and Accountability Group (PSAAG)

Scientific Committee Member, EIASM Public Sector Accounting and Accountability Conference