Scapegoating: How Organizations Assign Blame

Organizations can manage blame by taking full responsibility or creating scapegoats to avoid costly remedial interventions. Catino's book highlights the limits of explanations centered on guilt and individual solutions to organizational problems and the need for a different civic epistemology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

A catastrophic incident occurred when a massive cruise ship collided with rugged rocks near the coast, resulting in its sinking. As we navigate through challenging circumstances such as accidents, corporate scandals, crises, and bankruptcies, two distinct organizational strategies emerge to manage blame. The first approach involves taking full responsibility for the event and implementing robust corrective measures to address the consequences. This strategy aims to restore trust, accountability, and integrity within the organization. On the other hand, the second strategy involves creating scapegoats by shifting blame to individuals directly involved in the event. This approach seeks to protect the organization from potential legal liabilities and reputational damage.

In the case of the Costa Concordia shipwreck, as well as other well-known instances, Professor Catino delves into the processes and mechanisms that facilitate the creation of organizational scapegoats. Through a comprehensive analysis, Catino sheds light on the limitations of explanations solely focused on individual guilt and proposes a different civic epistemology. This epistemology emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility, systemic analysis, and the pursuit of justice for all affected parties.

By examining the Costa Concordia shipwreck and other notable cases, Professor Catino challenges us to reevaluate our understanding of organizational problems and encourages us to adopt a more holistic and ethical approach to managing blame. This approach involves acknowledging the interconnectedness of organizations, recognizing the role of structural factors, and fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and learning.

In conclusion, the management of blame in the face of negative events is a complex and multifaceted issue. Organizations can choose between taking full responsibility and creating scapegoats, but the latter approach often comes at the expense of transparency, accountability, and the well-being of those affected. By adopting a different civic epistemology and emphasizing collective responsibility, we can strive for a more just and equitable society.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009297196