Users in preparers' shoes

Mobilizing the sense of belonging in popular report development in local governments

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20201208
AutoresSandra Cohen (0000-0002-4795-0527, Athens University of Economics and Business), Sotirios Karatzima (0000-0002-1880-1573, Athens University of Economics and Business, autor de correspondencia)
Año2023
Volumen35
Número6
Páginas199-218
Fecha de publicación2023-12-18
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Public Budgeting Accounting & Financial Management (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1096-3367 • E-ISSN: 1945-1814
EditorialEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/jpbafm-03-2023-0038
OpenAlexW4387639411
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas43

Purpose The scope of this study is to explore informed citizens' engagement in the development of real municipalities' popular reports. For this purpose, an exploratory experiment is performed where potential users of popular reports with certain accounting skills (i.e. groups of undergraduate accounting students) act as preparers of these reports. Design/methodology/approach The study uses insights from the sense of belonging theory in an ambivalent way: to explain citizens' interest in popular reports and to consider popular reports as an impetus triggering citizens' sense of belonging. By content-analyzing the reports developed and taking stock of the students' perceptions on aspects of popular reports, a template for a popular report for local governments is synthesized. Further, by comparing the study findings with theoretical recommendations and popular reporting practices, the authors offer insights on the content and layout of popular reports which is expected to enhance the sense of belonging of citizens within their city. Findings The undergraduate students while relying on earlier examples and existing models have created their own reports in which they have used financial and non-financial information indicating the significance of both types of information for citizens. The evidenced heterogeneity in the developed reports is expected to be the effect of the sense of belonging. Moreover, the study reveals citizens' positive stance toward the adoption of co-development and co-creation approaches in the design of popular reports by citizen groups and municipal authorities which is consistent with a sense of belonging mobilization. Originality/value This study adds to the literature on the content and characteristics of popular reports by giving voice to the citizens themselves through an exploratory experiment that permits the sense of belonging to take effect

Ambivalence · Creativity · Originality · Perception · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Accounting and Organizational Management · Computer Science · E-Government and Public Services · Psychology · Public Policy and Administration Research · Social Psychology