The Character of Harms: Operational Challenges in Control Hardcover – May 19, 2008

by Malcolm K. Sparrow

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.

Genres: Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If someone had told me a couple of years ago that I should read a book on operational and regulatory challenges, I would have rolled my eyes in disbelief. How four years working in an agency with operational and regulatory functions can change your perspective. Not only did I pick up Malcolm Sparrow’s The Character of Harms thinking it might be an interesting read, I actually enjoyed it. A lot.

Sparrow starts out by drawing a distinction between harm reduction/control and the promotion of some countervailing good (e.g. reducing highway accidents vs improving highway safety; or reducing workplace fatalities vs promoting workplace safety). While there is still a role for broad based preventive programmes to promote certain goods, they are not a substitute for tasks to tackle specific harms, each with their own specific characteristics and texture.

For the regulatory agency that organizes itself itself around a specific harm, this is often seen as a radical departure from the status quo; agencies seldom organize themselves around problems – they organize themselves around functions and processes. But this is essential since certain harms fall outside the realm of agencies’ traditional functions and processes (e.g. non-filers are not represented in the tax authority’s processes and are hence invisible to the organization). Organising an agency’s work around specific harms brings its own challenges – how one can measure the impact of harm reduction efforts, having a system in place to support and sustain such work, convincing stakeholders of the value of trying a radically different approach to achieving an agency’s mandate.

A lot of what Sparrow discusses in his book resonated with me – how operational processes, once established, can acquire a power of their own, as agencies strive to keep up their process loads; how an agency’s theory of operations influences how it tackles a particular problem and how this can present a problem when the theory becomes obsolete or when there are competing theories (e.g. when there is a merger between a department that is traditional regulator and another that plays a more advisory role to industry, or when there are overlapping jurisdictions between different agencies). A thought provoking read for anyone who deals broadly with harms and risks.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling examination of a fairly niche subject.

I enjoyed Sparrow’s style and structured examination of the subject matter, and found this to be a very accessible text.

I do think there is room for further expansion on the distinction between (and selection of) a regulatory position focused on prevention of emerging threats vs one focused on untangling established harm behaviors.

Similarly, it would be great to see a deeper analysis of overcoming challenges in establishing causality in preventative practise, and how one might establish more effective measurement of impact.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this book is more recent it covers a greater expanse of relevant problems and material of the past decade. Malcolm Sparrow masterfully confronts the challenges produced by public administration as it proceeds to move problem solving to the forefront. Harm-reduction theory becomes more applicable and practical in the modern world as non-compliance continues to grow.

[Joseph Comaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very technical discussion, but a very interesting perspective on the flip-side of risk management. Graphs and examples were very helpful to those of us not familiar with this area of program evaluation. I saw many applications to areas in which I am involved beyond those mentioned in the book. I look forward to applying some of the techniques I learned from this reading.

[Jules Arntz-Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for public policy regulators.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was handed out at the Harvard Senior Executive Fellowship and is really good. I will be taking it back to work as it highlights challenges in realizing risk.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that reminds law enforcement leaders the importance of properly set objectives and the tasks required to ensure that actions taken are leading to identified, desired outcomes. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of hidden harms and the Pygmalion effects of targeted "hot spots."

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for policy analysts and regulations-makers, with practical approaches and examples. One star off for a discursive style and a vocabulary over the heads of the people who need to "get" this.