Intermediary roles in regulatory programs: Toward a role‐based framework

Abstract

This paper develops a role‐based framework of intermediaries in regulatory programs. In examining the types of roles that organizations adopt in regulation and governance, we argue that roles have important implications for understanding organizational and program level dynamism and outcomes. We use the Regulator–Intermediary–rule‐Taker framework to describe how organizational roles can be adopted through assignment, appropriation, or promotion. We then go deeper into how intermediaries adopt a variety of different roles in key regulatory programs. We examine generic intermediary roles across programs that involve four main groups of activities: creating and/or organizing, coordinating between programs, supporting implementation, and voicing an opinion. All in all, our role‐based framework allows for a novel relational way to understand interorganizational and institutional dynamism in complex, interactive, and ever‐changing regulatory regimes.

Big audit firms as regulatory intermediaries in transnational labor governance

“…Indeed, we hold that many of the ways in which actors involved in intermediary roles seek to secure their position lie outside of the roles assigned to them as intermediaries in regulatory governance (cf. Kourula et al 2018). This enhances the importance of our previous point, about getting to know better the preferences of audit firms when they influence regulatory processes.…”

“…Kourula et al . ). In line with the conceptualization suggested in the Introduction to this Special Issue (Brès et al .…”

“…Kourula et al . ). This enhances the importance of our previous point, about getting to know better the preferences of audit firms when they influence regulatory processes.…”

Opaque transparency: How material affordances shape intermediary work

“…In particular, competent intermediaries can: translate or interpret regulations for targets, making it easier for them to follow the letter of the law; monitor compliance; and serve as a conduit from targets to regulators, providing advice on improving institutional designs (Bothello & Mehrpouya ; Kourula et al . ).…”

“…">Theoretical backgroundThe R-I-T model provides the conceptual building blocks for analyzing intermediary-based regulation, a form of control that can provide tangible benefits when regulators have limited capacity and expertise (Abbott et al 2017). In particular, competent intermediaries can: translate or interpret regulations for targets, making it easier for them to follow the letter of the law; monitor compliance; and serve as a conduit from targets to regulators, providing advice on improving institutional designs (Bothello & Mehrpouya 2018;Kourula et al 2018).…”