Risk management challenges of shared public services: a comparative analysis of Scotland and Finland

Abstract

This paper analyses the risk management challenges of shared service provision in Scotland and Finland. Policy context and institutional frameworks largely determine the local choice of organizational arrangements and so the risks that arise and the way they are shared. Finnish municipalities have developed joint municipal arrangements for sharing services, whereas Scotland's shared service challenges are related to the historical separation of health and social care services and the search for cost savings while improving service effectiveness.

Keywords:

• Finland
• local government
• risk management
• Scotland
• shared services