Leadership, governance and the mitigation of risk: a case study
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine how managers in financial institutions satisfy themselves of the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategy and management control. It studies the co-opting of accounting tools within a single financial institution case study, examining the recursive and emergent characteristics of risk management practice.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting a field study approach within the strategy-as-practice perspective, the paper provides insights into the role of actor perceptions of risk and accounting as a calculative practice in the adaptive enactment of risk strategy.
Findings
Results highlight the interactions between risk management strategy, management controls and actor interests at Lehman Brothers. The actions and reactions of risk management decision-makers such as Executive Committee and Board members are examined to better understand the role of accounting and leadership.
Research limitations/implications
Results of this study may not be generalised beyond this single case study.
Practical implications
The paper emphasises that concern for the social relations and the performative interests of actors in a risk management network needs to be understood and considered in accounting research. It is argued that the market prices of tradable financial asset will continue to be opaque without these insights.
Originality/value
This study explores an under-researched topic in the accounting literature in examining how management controls are affected by and, in turn, affect risk strategising.
Keywords
Citation
Rooney, J. and Cuganesan, S. (2015), "Leadership, governance and the mitigation of risk: a case study", Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 132-159. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-08-2014-1078
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited