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Soft governance and notions of accountability: illuminating local education authority practices in systematic quality work.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Soft governance and notions of accountability: illuminating local education authority practices in systematic quality work.
Authors: Liljenberg, Mette (AUTHOR)
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. Jun2026, Vol. 70 Issue 4, p875-890. 16p.
Subjects: Government accountability, Quality assurance, Rational-legal authority, School boards, Participatory democracy, Institutional theory (Sociology)
Abstract: Soft governance in the Swedish school system permits local education authorities to design their own models for systematic quality work (SQW). National policy emphasizes systematization and continuity and also recommends participation and dialogue with principals. This study aims to contribute knowledge about how soft governance in SQW plays out at the LEA level. Based on a multiple case study of six strategically selected municipalities, the paper examines notions of accountability enabled by the design and practice of dialogue meeting routines, a trending approach in Swedish LEAs. Drawing on institutional theory, the findings demonstrate conformity in dialogue meeting routines alongside numerous bureaucratic accountability notions and relatively few professional accountability ones. What may, on the surface, be perceived as routines promoting participation and dialogue in SQW made this possible, albeit performatively and rarely. The findings highlight that LEA-level capacity is important or else dialogue meeting routines risk becoming nothing but ceremonial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:Soft governance in the Swedish school system permits local education authorities to design their own models for systematic quality work (SQW). National policy emphasizes systematization and continuity and also recommends participation and dialogue with principals. This study aims to contribute knowledge about how soft governance in SQW plays out at the LEA level. Based on a multiple case study of six strategically selected municipalities, the paper examines notions of accountability enabled by the design and practice of dialogue meeting routines, a trending approach in Swedish LEAs. Drawing on institutional theory, the findings demonstrate conformity in dialogue meeting routines alongside numerous bureaucratic accountability notions and relatively few professional accountability ones. What may, on the surface, be perceived as routines promoting participation and dialogue in SQW made this possible, albeit performatively and rarely. The findings highlight that LEA-level capacity is important or else dialogue meeting routines risk becoming nothing but ceremonial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00313831
DOI:10.1080/00313831.2025.2516443