The internal accountability dynamic of UK service clubs: towards (more) intelligent accountability?

This paper explores the nature of internal accountability within service organisations. The study adopts a cross-sectional approach, with the three largest service organisations in the world selected along with Round Table International, a popular service organisation in the UK. This paper utilises Roberts’ framework of individualising/hierarchical and socialising/intelligent forms of accountability, with socialising forms of accountability dominating accountable space within service clubs. The presence of a more “intelligent accountability” dynamic at grassroots level is then considered. This paper concludes with avenues for development of more intelligent accountability within service organisations, along with further research opportunities.