Balancing Between Extremes: Goal Ambiguity‐Based Strategies to Contain Goal Displacement in Regulatory Enforcement Agencies

Abstract

There is growing evidence of the occurrence of several types of goal displacement in regulatory enforcement agencies. A major underlying determinant of these phenomena is the neglect of ambiguities characterizing the goals of these agencies. This paper proposes three strategies that carefully consider these goal ambiguities to contain goal displacement. Each of them relates to an important underlying process in enforcement regimes. The first, multifocal scope selection, seeks to establish a balanced process of selecting regulated organizations to inspect. The second, multitier compliance perception, aims to increase the robustness of the translation of regulatory requirements to the specific settings of regulated organizations. Finally, multi‐indicator means specification strives to solidify the subordinate position of means to goals in the process of means specification. These ambiguity management strategies may shed new light on how to optimally manage enforcement agencies to increase their effectiveness.