Conversations in accountability: Perspectives from three charities

Objective: The conversations in accountability were designed to gain an understanding of the use and changes to accountability in charities over time, including learning how results are measured. Methods: As part of a larger study which investigated accountability in charities working to reduce mort...

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Main Author: David C. Kirsch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2016-02-01
Series:Family Medicine and Community Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cscript/fmch/2016/00000004/00000001/art00004
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author David C. Kirsch
author_facet David C. Kirsch
author_sort David C. Kirsch
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The conversations in accountability were designed to gain an understanding of the use and changes to accountability in charities over time, including learning how results are measured. Methods: As part of a larger study which investigated accountability in charities working to reduce mortality of children younger than 5 years in least developed countries, a multiple-case study comprising semistructured in-depth key informant interviews was conducted to investigate the use and effects of accountability in three charities of differing sizes. Results: Smaller charities tend to use fewer accountability mechanisms than larger ones, whereas the variation in their use between small and medium-sized charities is greater than the variation between medium-sized and large charities. Conclusion: Although accountability has changed over time, charities believe that they are providing the correct amount of accountability – that is, enough to satisfy the perceived demands of their stakeholders but not so much that it detracts from the mission or incurs costs in excess of benefits. However, the tools to determine effectiveness and impact are lacking.
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spelling doaj.art-e79838e9514348c79549f46e1008b5bb2022-12-22T03:56:24ZengBMJ Publishing GroupFamily Medicine and Community Health2305-69832009-87742016-02-0141152110.15212/FMCH.2016.0103Conversations in accountability: Perspectives from three charitiesDavid C. Kirsch0School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, HNES Room 404A, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, CanadaObjective: The conversations in accountability were designed to gain an understanding of the use and changes to accountability in charities over time, including learning how results are measured. Methods: As part of a larger study which investigated accountability in charities working to reduce mortality of children younger than 5 years in least developed countries, a multiple-case study comprising semistructured in-depth key informant interviews was conducted to investigate the use and effects of accountability in three charities of differing sizes. Results: Smaller charities tend to use fewer accountability mechanisms than larger ones, whereas the variation in their use between small and medium-sized charities is greater than the variation between medium-sized and large charities. Conclusion: Although accountability has changed over time, charities believe that they are providing the correct amount of accountability – that is, enough to satisfy the perceived demands of their stakeholders but not so much that it detracts from the mission or incurs costs in excess of benefits. However, the tools to determine effectiveness and impact are lacking.http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cscript/fmch/2016/00000004/00000001/art00004Accountabilitycharitynon-government organisation (NGO)mortality of children younger than 5 years
spellingShingle David C. Kirsch
Conversations in accountability: Perspectives from three charities
Family Medicine and Community Health
Accountability
charity
non-government organisation (NGO)
mortality of children younger than 5 years
title Conversations in accountability: Perspectives from three charities
title_full Conversations in accountability: Perspectives from three charities
title_fullStr Conversations in accountability: Perspectives from three charities
title_full_unstemmed Conversations in accountability: Perspectives from three charities
title_short Conversations in accountability: Perspectives from three charities
title_sort conversations in accountability perspectives from three charities
topic Accountability
charity
non-government organisation (NGO)
mortality of children younger than 5 years
url http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cscript/fmch/2016/00000004/00000001/art00004
work_keys_str_mv AT davidckirsch conversationsinaccountabilityperspectivesfromthreecharities