Making Hospitals Governable: Performativity and Institutional Work in Ranking Practices. Issue 4 (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wallenburg, Iris; Quartz, Julia; Bal, Roland
• Is Part Of: Administration & society. Volume 51:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 637
• Page End: 663
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: rankings -- performativity -- institutional work -- actor–network theory -- materiality; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351
• DOI: 10.1177/0095399716680054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-3997

Abstract

Rankings have become ubiquitous in public service settings. Although there are high hopes that comparative analysis leads to improved processes and outcomes, there is also a growing criticism of rankings as creating perverse effects. In this article, we analyze how public service governance is affected by rankings with a special focus on how, in what ways, and to what extent organizations are made into governable entities as a response to rankings. The article is based on a detailed ethnographic study in three Dutch hospitals, using insights from actor–network theory and institutional work, combining the concepts of performativity and institutional work.