The Character of Harms
Operational Challenges in Control

A new and powerful approach to tackling the complex problems facing society.

Malcolm K. Sparrow (Author)

9780521872102, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 April 2008

271 pages, 5 b/w illus. 1 table
23.4 x 16 x 2.3 cm, 0.57 kg

'Malcolm Sparrow provides a clear, readable account of approaches to controlling harms, threats and risks in modern society. His skilful combination of academic literatures and practical examples presents a strong argument for evidence based action. In particular his cross domain approach should attract a wide readership ranging as it does from issues of world poverty to harm reduction in individual organizations. It will appeal to academics and practitioners alike.' Professor Bridget Hutter, London School of Economics

How should we deal with societal ills such as crime, poverty, pollution, terrorism, and corruption? The Character of Harms argues that control or mitigation of 'bad' things involves distinctive patterns of thought and action which turn out to be broadly applicable across a range of human endeavors, and which need to be better understood. Malcolm Sparrow demonstrates that an explicit focus on the bads, rather than on the countervailing goods (safety, prosperity, environmental stewardship, etc.) can provide rich opportunities for surgically efficient and effective interventions - an operational approach which he terms 'the sabotage of harms'. The book explores the institutional arrangements and decision-frameworks necessary to support this emerging operational model. Written for reflective practitioners charged with risk-control responsibilities across the public, private, and non-governmental sectors, The Character of Harms makes a powerful case for a new approach to tackling the complex problems facing society.

List of figures and tables
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I. The Nature of the Control Task: 1. Which way up, and does it matter?
2. A different kind of work
3. Defining problems: setting the scale
4. Defining problems: picking the dimensions
5. Patterns of thought and action
6. Puzzles of measurement
7. Structures, protocols and interactions
Part II. Special Categories of Harm: 8. Invisible harms
9. Conscious opponents
10. Catastrophic harms
11. Harms in equilibrium
12. Performance-enhancing risks
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Business & management [KJ]