From government to governance: External influences on business risk management

Abstract

The influence of external organizations and pressures on business risk management practices has hitherto been examined through the influence of state regulatory regimes on businesses. This article concentrates on key socio-legal concerns about the influence of the law in social and economic life. We know that the sources of regulation and risk management are diversifying beyond the state. What we do not have is much empirically informed research about the range of sources influencing the business world and in particular the weighting of influence exercised by them. In this paper we explore the understandings regulatory actors have of the different external pressures on business risk management through an empirical study of the understandings of those in the food retail sector about the management of food safety and food hygiene risks. A broader objective is to throw some further light onto the debate about regulation within and beyond the state.

Safety in machinery design and construction: Knowledge and performance

“…An alternative view is that the potential for health and safety information to be communicated through intermediaries is circumscribed (Hasle et al, 2010;Hutter and Jones, 2007;James et al, 2004;Walters and James, 2009). Limiting factors include the knowledge or resource constraints of particular non-state actors, the less than robust information provided by these sources and regulatees not knowing what action they should take.…”

Attitudes and Ethics: Evaluating Knowledge and Regulatory Constructs in Planning Enforcement Practice

“…The investigation is, therefore, driven by a fusion of theoretical concepts. Firstly, those which contribute to the understanding of the structural processes driving regulatory compliance (Hutter & Jones, 2007); and, secondly, the use and interpretation of layers of knowledge (Rydin, 2007) which feed into decision-making processes. The rationale for this departure point is that successful implementation of the regulatory framework is dependent upon the knowledge and information which are used to make enforcement decisions.…”

The regulation of work health and safety

“…As well as enterprises' customers or clients, and parties in supply chains and franchising arrangements, other influential non-state actors for WHS include industry and professional associations, unions, insurance companies, providers of education and training, WHS consultants and technical standards bodies. In principle, these non-state actors may foster awareness of WHS and regulatory systems and positively influence WHS outcomes, but, in practice, the information they provide may be less than robust and their influence may run counter to regulatory goals or, in business relationships, they may limit a (small) enterprise's room to move on WHS (Bluff 2015a;Hutter and Jones 2007;Lamm and Walters 2004). …”