Framing public sector accountability in uncertain context

aut.researcherNarayan, Anil
dc.contributor.authorNarayan, A
dc.date.accessioned2012-08-20T00:51:59Z
dc.date.available2012-08-20T00:51:59Z
dc.date.copyright2012
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractSeveral studies have broadened the conceptualisation of accountability, but within the public sector, there has been a limited examination of the difficulties associated with the operationalisation of accountability in uncertain contexts. The contemporary notions of public sector accountability based on New Public Management (NPM) principles have created tensions that remain largely unexplained in current literature. These tensions underlie some of the difficulties and cynicism related to the manner in which public sector organisations recognise and discharge their accountability obligations. Using an exploratory case, this study makes a useful contribution to this area by proposing that under conditions of uncertainty and complexity, institutionalized practices flourish as public institutions strive for greater legitimacy within their larger institutional environments to enhance reputation and compete for resources. The findings of the study reveal that in uncertain contexts, a much stronger accountability arises from normative obligations, whereas NPM accountability focus on control and assurance is relatively weak. Framing accountability in terms of normative obligations will help recognise the learning and development dimension of accountability.
dc.identifier.citationAccounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, 4-6 July, 2010, Christchurch, New Zealand.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/4568
dc.publisherAccounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ)
dc.relation.isreplacedby10292/4569
dc.relation.isreplacedbyhttp://hdl.handle.net/10292/4569
dc.relation.urihttp://www.afaanz.org/openconf/2010/modules/request.php?module=oc_program&action=view.php&id=253
dc.rightsNOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in (see Citation). The original publication is available at (see Publisher's Version).
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccess
dc.subjectAccountability
dc.subjectNew public management
dc.subjectOperationalisation
dc.subjectUncertain context
dc.titleFraming public sector accountability in uncertain context
dc.typeJournal Article
pubs.organisational-data/AUT
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Business & Law
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Business & Law/Accounting
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Business & Law/Accounting/Accounting PBRF 2012
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF Researchers
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF Researchers/Business & Law PBRF Researchers
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF Researchers/Business & Law PBRF Researchers/B & L Accounting
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