Arun, Thankom and Adhikari, Pawan and Mohan, Ram (2021) Learning accountability in the public sector: the experience of Kerala. Financial Accountability and Management, 37 (2). pp. 184-203. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/faam.12248
Arun, Thankom and Adhikari, Pawan and Mohan, Ram (2021) Learning accountability in the public sector: the experience of Kerala. Financial Accountability and Management, 37 (2). pp. 184-203. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/faam.12248
Arun, Thankom and Adhikari, Pawan and Mohan, Ram (2021) Learning accountability in the public sector: the experience of Kerala. Financial Accountability and Management, 37 (2). pp. 184-203. DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/faam.12248
Abstract
Given that learning has become a core element in addressing the ever-increasing complexities in public sector accountability, we investigate two issues in this paper: (1) how learning was involved in the process of disseminating a competency framework (CF) in four state departments in Kerala, India; and (2) an analysis of the challenges involved in this process, using the theoretical insights from learning accountability. Although the CF would revitalise governance and accountability mechanisms by establishing a conducive environment for administrators to learn in, the nuances of the existing administrative structure limited the scope of this learning exercise. The CF in Kerala generated fear, tension and resistance amongst the administrators, due to a perceived gap between the very objectives of the CF and the administrative settings, in which learning was insignificant. The paper argues that imposing public administrators’ accountability reforms, such as the CF, would be meaningless until an emphasis is placed on learning accountability. Furthermore, there is a need to ‘unlearn’ or ‘discard’ the prevailing traditional learning and accountability practices; unless this is achieved, a conducive environment for learning accountability cannot be institutionalised, nor can reforms such as the CF be materialised.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Competency framework; India; Kerala; learning accountability; public sector |
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Essex Business School |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 18 Mar 2020 11:35 |
Last Modified: | 30 Oct 2024 21:21 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/27121 |
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Filename: faam.12248.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0