Studying risk governance using a design perspective
Author
Summary, in English
A conceptual framework for systematically studying and analysing risk governance is introduced. The framework, which is influenced by design science, is particularly valuable for relating the way risks are handled at the micro-level to aspects at the macro-level. Three central concepts are included in the framework: purpose, function, and form. A function is used to denote what a specific system does, or needs to do, to achieve the purpose of a risk governance process. The purpose of a risk governance process answers the question why it exists, or why it should be introduced, while the form denotes how the functions are, or should be, carried out in practice. The framework is especially useful as a basis for identifying problems related to a fragmentation of the risk governance process in contexts involving multiple stakeholders. Moreover, it allows descriptive, evaluative, as well as normative approaches. In this way, the framework manages to connect two central types of problems. On the one hand it addresses the problem of understanding and explaining a risk governance process (descriptive approach) and, on the other hand, the problem of constructing, or improving it (normative approach). The usefulness of the design perspective is exemplified in two cases, and the findings from both of these cases indicate a fragmentation of the risk governance process.
Department/s
- Lund University Centre for Risk Assessment and Management (LUCRAM)
- Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
- Centre for Societal Resilience
Publishing year
2014
Language
English
Pages
89-98
Publication/Series
Safety Science
Volume
68
Full text
- Available as PDF - 363 kB
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Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Keywords
- design perspective
- design science
- risk governance
- risk management
- fragmentation
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0925-7535