THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF RISK MANAGEMENT: THE CASES OF HEALTHCARE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRMS

This doctoral research aims to obtain a richer understanding, empirically and theoretically, of risk management in situ as a social and institutional practice. The research deploys a qualitative research methodology to develop a richer understanding of the processes how risk management is conceptualized and enacted in two different cases, healthcare and professional services firms. In the hospital setting, the objective of the study is to extend and develop our understanding of the dynamics involved and efforts undertaken by individuals to make sense of risk. More specifically, by providing an account of individuals it aims to better understand how understandings and practices of risk are shaped and evolve as a consequence of individuals’ efforts and interactions. In the Big-4 setting, the main aim of the study is to better understand, empirically and theoretically, how professional services firms are internally operationalizing risk management. This study is particularly interested in understanding the challenges these firms face related to risk management, especially when the professional services firm is seeking to extend services to new domains.