Trust and control: public administration and risk society Online publication date: Mon, 12-Dec-2011
by Hans Christian Høyer; Elin Marit Wood
International Journal of Learning and Change (IJLC), Vol. 5, No. 2, 2011
Abstract: Today we live in a society with many choices and possibilities which were absent just a few decades ago. Knowledge is seen as temporary, and many paradoxes are experienced in the flow of information surrounding us. A basic insecurity can be seen as a consequence of this development. This paper re-thinks the consequences at the administrational and organisational levels, when mistrust is institutionalised as the natural and rational mindset instead of trust. Another consequence is a desire to reduce actual risk by attempting to control the future with risk assessment and control procedures, instead of accepting the complexity as something that is. An administrative strategy based upon mistrust and focused on control and management of colleagues seems self-perpetuating and contributes to a form of management cynicism that is neither effective nor professionally stimulating or innovative. The benefit of behaving trustingly can override having to tolerate some insecurity and deviation.
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