The “budget of mission” and the public company: the case of the health organizations (Giorgio Gosetti and Eno Quargnolo)

Social accountability has become one of the most interesting themes for public organizations, referring to both the constructing ways and the effects that services produce themselves with a special focus on relationship between an organization and its context of reference. Reflection on social responsibility and accountability has a particular meaning for public organizations, for its in their essence, being socially responsible. Their actions and objectives are to be considered mainly for their impact on community and the socio-economic and cultural context in which they operate. Starting from this point of view, this work examines the specific case of health agencies in Emilia-Romagna Region with specific attention to the process to realize the mission balance, institutionally defined as a process and an instrument of social accountability.