Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory Advance Access published online on May 7, 2008
Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, doi:10.1093/jopart/mun011
A Generic Multiple Constituency Matrix: Accountability in Private Prisons
Macquarie Graduate School of Management
Macquarie Graduate School of Management
Address correspondence to the authors at gayle.avery{at}mgsm.edu.au.
Public and private sector organizations and their constituents are subject to numerous, often competing, accountability pressures. Guidelines are lacking on how to identify and depict the extent and nature of multiple constituency (MC) relationships. This article identifies limitations of five existing MC schemas. A proposed new MC matrix integrates seven accountability dimensions identified from the literature. The new matrix depicts potential accountability relationships and their nature and functions as a normative and diagnostic tool. The utility of this matrix for normatively depicting multiple accountability relationships and diagnostically monitoring accountability performance is illustrated by reference to prisons run by private operators.