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Managing risk in public services A review of the international literature

Managing risk in public services A review of the international literature Claims that the small but steady growth in discussion in academic circles of aspects of risk taking and risk management, as they affect public services managers generally, which is observable in the UK, does not appear to be reflected so strongly in the wider international literature. Here, the direction of the debate and discussion turns much more on quasi‐constitutional issues and topics, such as “accountability” and “control”. As efforts grow to decentralize public services organizations and give public service managers more control over the day‐to‐day operational running of their organizations, a new term has entered the language of the debate ‐ that of “agility”. Suggests this appears to combine the skill of handling increased accountability for decision making with that of the upgrading of managers’ skills. Finds that risk is explored more widely in related texts, predominantly where a particular public service, such as the police, health or social services, is simultaneously viewed as a profession. Aims to explain why the international literature pointedly avoids much explicit discussion of risk, preferring to frame the issue within terms concerning levels of financial control and official accountability. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Public Sector Management Emerald Publishing

Managing risk in public services A review of the international literature

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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 MCB UP Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISSN
0951-3558
DOI
10.1108/09513559610119564
Publisher site
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Abstract

Claims that the small but steady growth in discussion in academic circles of aspects of risk taking and risk management, as they affect public services managers generally, which is observable in the UK, does not appear to be reflected so strongly in the wider international literature. Here, the direction of the debate and discussion turns much more on quasi‐constitutional issues and topics, such as “accountability” and “control”. As efforts grow to decentralize public services organizations and give public service managers more control over the day‐to‐day operational running of their organizations, a new term has entered the language of the debate ‐ that of “agility”. Suggests this appears to combine the skill of handling increased accountability for decision making with that of the upgrading of managers’ skills. Finds that risk is explored more widely in related texts, predominantly where a particular public service, such as the police, health or social services, is simultaneously viewed as a profession. Aims to explain why the international literature pointedly avoids much explicit discussion of risk, preferring to frame the issue within terms concerning levels of financial control and official accountability.

Journal

International Journal of Public Sector Management – Emerald Publishing

Published: Apr 1, 1996

Keywords: Management; Public sector; Risk

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