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Accountability and expertise in public sector risk management: a case study

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  • Palermo, Tommaso

Abstract

This paper examines the adoption of a formal risk management framework in a large public sector organisation. The paper shows the relevance of risk management as an accountability tool, extended by means of disclosure to the scrutiny of distant others. The paper also reveals how the use of risk management is dependent on relational skills, knowledge of business activities and professional experience. Risk management can be seen as both a context-dependent device and as a technique abstracted from a context. The paper discusses how risk officers deal with this complexity, addressing the expectations of multiple organisational actors and external entities.

Suggested Citation

  • Palermo, Tommaso, 2014. "Accountability and expertise in public sector risk management: a case study," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 59948, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:59948
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/59948/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tobias Scheytt & Kim Soin & Kerstin Sahlin‐Andersson & Michael Power, 2006. "Introduction: Organizations, Risk and Regulation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(6), pages 1331-1337, September.
    2. Lounsbury, Michael, 2008. "Institutional rationality and practice variation: New directions in the institutional analysis of practice," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(4-5), pages 349-361.
    3. Paul M. Collier & Margaret Woods, 2011. "A Comparison of the Local Authority Adoption of Risk Management in England and Australia," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 21(2), pages 111-123, June.
    4. Mikes, Anette, 2011. "From counting risk to making risk count: Boundary-work in risk management," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 226-245.
    5. Miller, Peter & O'Leary, Ted, 2007. "Mediating instruments and making markets: Capital budgeting, science and the economy," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(7-8), pages 701-734.
    6. Irvine Lapsley, 2009. "New Public Management: The Cruellest Invention of the Human Spirit?1," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(1), pages 1-21, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Monia Castellini & Vincenzo Riso, 2023. "The Role of Citizens in the Municipalities? Risk Management Process: An Overview in Italy," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(1), pages 143-163.
    2. Arena, Marika & Arnaboldi, Michela & Palermo, Tommaso, 2017. "The dynamics of (dis)integrated risk management: a comparative field study," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 84285, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Sophie Flemig & Stephen Osborne & Tony Kinder, 2016. "Risky business—reconceptualizing risk and innovation in public services," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(6), pages 425-432, September.
    4. Martin Carlsson‐Wall & Katarina Kaarbøe & Kalle Kraus & Anita Meidell, 2021. "Risk Management as Passionate Imitation: The Interconnections Among Emotions, Performance Metrics, and Risk in a Global Technology Firm," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 57(1), pages 72-100, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    risk management; accountability; expertise; public sector;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance

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