Synopses & Reviews
The modern world is dominated by complex organizations. In this book Mark Bovens analyzes the questions associated with the search for responsiblity within such organizations. In organizations with many people contributing in many different ways, how can we determine who is accountable for organizational behavior? How do we define responsible behavior within organizations? Can different notions of responsibility prevent abuses? His analysis is multidisciplinary, combining law, social science, ethics, and organizational design, and provides a number of suggestions for institutional reform.
Review
"...The Quest for Responsibility is thought provoking and demands careful reading. It may well serve as a springboard for organization theorists to develop research propositions." Marcia P. Miceli, Administrative Science Quarterly
Synopsis
This book analyses the questions associated with the search for responsibility within organisations.
Table of Contents
Part I. The Quest for Responsibility: 1. Complex organisations and the quest for responsibility; 2. Complex organisations as corporate actors; 3. Two concepts of responsibility; Part II. Passive Responsibility: 4. Accountability: the problem of many hands; 5. Corporate accountability: the organisation as a person; 6. Hierarchical accountability: one for all; 7. Collective accountability: all for one; 8. Individual accountability: each for oneself; Part III. Active Responsibility: 9. Virtue: active responsibility in complex organisations; 10. Exit: resignation and refusal; 11. Voice: whistleblowing and leaking; 12. Loyalty: responsibility as a by-product.