Resource optimisation through targeted digitalisation: overcoming systemic dysfunctions in regional sports infrastructure management in Ukraine

Abstract

This article develops a methodological approach to the digital transformation of public administration for sports infrastructure at the regional level under the systemic challenges of martial law. The relevance of this research is determined by the necessity to transition from universal digitalisation models to targeted technological solutions capable of addressing specific institutional dysfunctions within the management system. The aim of this article is to substantiate the methodology of targeted digitalisation as an alternative to comprehensive automation of management processes in the sphere of sports infrastructure. The research combines empirical analysis of management practices with theoretical modelling of digital transformation mechanisms, employing the concept of ‘digital levers’ for organisational change adapted from Westerman, Bonnet, and McAfee’s framework.The study identifies systemic dysfunctions in public administration, including fragmentation of the management hierarchy, deficiency of control mechanisms, limited regional absorptive capacity, and institutional barriers to innovation implementation. Through triangulation of budgetary reporting data, audit conclusions from the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, and technical documentation from the DREAM digital platform, the research reveals a fundamental disconnect between technological capabilities and institutional readiness for transformation. The developed targeted digitalisation matrix establishes a methodological connection between the characteristics of management pathologies and the functional capabilities of digital technologies. This approach differentiates technological interventions according to three criteria: the nature of dysfunction (structural, procedural, behavioural), the level of digital maturity amongst management entities, and existing resource constraints.The principle of ‘problem-oriented digitalisation’ is substantiated, whereby technologies are selected not for their innovative qualities but for their capacity to influence the reproduction mechanisms of specific management dysfunctions. Each digital instrument is mapped to particular pathology reproduction mechanisms: automation reduces subjective factor influence, distributed ledger technology ensures data immutability, machine learning algorithms optimise resource allocation, and IoT networks provide objective infrastructure monitoring. The research demonstrates that whilst platform-based solutions like DREAM represent technological advancement, their effectiveness remains limited without addressing underlying institutional incentives that perpetuate dysfunctional practices.Prospects for implementing distributed ledger technologies are identified for ensuring transparency of financial flows and automating resource allocation through smart contracts. The study proposes a three-tier implementation architecture: cloud-based solutions for frontline territories lacking local infrastructure, hybrid platforms for regions with moderate capacity, and comprehensive smart ecosystems for developed urban centres. The conclusion is drawn that targeted digitalisation ensures systemic transformation of public administration through precise impact on the reproduction mechanisms of institutional pathologies, unlike universal solutions that merely digitise existing inefficient practices. This methodological approach offers particular value for post-conflict reconstruction contexts where resource constraints demand maximum efficiency in technological investments.