Risk management with management control systems: A pragmatic constructivist perspective

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

This paper addresses the issue that calculative practices build on socially constructed facts that have both subjective and objective components. Using risk management as an example, we take a pragmatic-constructivist stance to explore how such a tool might be integrated in actor-based Management Control Systems. We propose a conceptual framework and a research agenda that accounts for actorship (L. Nørreklit, 2013) beyond numerical facts. This paper is conceptual and draws on secondary literature. Our framework highlights the non-linear, iterative nature of integrating calculative practices that specifically require complex reflection concerning the [1] validation if possibilities are factual (combining subjective and numerical data), [2] the elimination of illusions and sur-realities through constructive conflict/dialectical management, and [3] the co-construction of organization-wide topoi (causality and pertinent accounting practices). Our research furthers practice research on calculative practices through the development of a prescriptive rather than descriptive framework. It also offers propositions that future case study researchers can use.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCorporate Ownership & Control
Volume13
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)72-81
Number of pages10
ISSN1727-9232
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Calculative practice, Management control systems, Practice theory, Pragmatic constructivism, Risk management
  • Management studies

DOI