Latuszynska, Agnieszka (2020) Conceptualizing and managing dynamic risk. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Organisational research is dominated by viewing risk as static predictable and calculable probability of harm or hazard that is subject to scientific measurement and analytical reasoning. Risk that can be managed by following recommendations, plans and protocols informed by historical data or scientific analysis. However, this is in stark contrast with the micro perspective of a professional in acute mental health services, where our study is situated. Risk there is ambiguous, unpredictable, ever changing and characterised by immediacy.

In this thesis, we first investigate how do mental health professionals conceptualize risk in such an intense dynamic setting. We develop a generic Dynamic Risk Model that systematizes the sources and characteristics of dynamic risk. The model describes a layering of three dimensions: Emerging Apprehension, relating to what can be understood about the risk; Remaking of Risk, relating to what can be done about the risk with available resources; and Evolving Risk Trajectory, relating to how risk may evolve over time. Developing a concept of risk that accounts for time and change provides a basis for understanding time pressures and urgencies of actors situated in dynamic risk settings.

Subsequently, we ask what do the risk actors do in their day-to-day work to contain dynamic risk in real time. We turn to study the riskwork of the mental health professionals and find out that they structure their riskwork into four interrelated and time sensitive practices: Interpreting and Reinterpreting, aimed at recognising what is the risk, how big is the risk and what causes the risk; Corroborating, aimed at confirming how and when to act in order to manage dynamic risk; Securing Efficacy, aimed at being responsive and remaining responsive to risk; and Counterbalancing, aimed at preventing recurrence of high risk levels.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD61 Risk Management
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Mental health facilities -- Risk management, Risk
Official Date:	January 2020
Dates:	Date Event January 2020 UNSPECIFIED
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Warwick Business School
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Oborn, Eivor ; Reay, Trish
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	176 leaves : colour illustrations
Language:	eng

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