Gli abusi nelle organizzazioni: un approccio organizzativo

There is increasing attention to abuses within organizational contexts, a problem that spans a wide range of institutions, including schools, daycare centers, hospitals, long-term care facilities for the elderly, and military organizations. The history and patterns of these abuses, uncovered through numerous journalistic investigations and commission inquiries, suggest that they are not simply the result of a few «bad apples», members of an organization with deviant tendencies. The sheer number and diversity of organizations affected by abuses, combined with the failure of many to effectively address them, points to the importance of the context. This article aims to introduce an organizational perspective, which argues that organizational factors can both enable abuse and hinder effective responses. By examining two cases of child sexual abuse within different organizational contexts – the Irish Diocese of Ferns and elite swimming in Queensland, Australia – this article shows that the failure of organizations to address abuse once it is discovered is not solely attributable to individuals’ attempts to protect the institution. Rather, it often arises from a complex interplay of organizational factors, including administrative systems, control mechanisms, power structures, organizational culture, and institutional processes.