New institutional theory perspective: water safety plan implementations in Thailand, Australia, Indonesia and Nepal

ABSTRACT

Water is essential for human life and is an increasingly scarce resource with global population increase and climate change. In recognition of access to water as a fundamental human right, the World Health Organization (WHO) formulated Water Safety Plans (WSP) to be used by water organisations globally to ensure safe and secure water for human consumption. Whether and how water utility organizations use WSPs varies globally, however. We use case study analyses and institutional theory to explore the difference between water utility companies that are forced by regulations to adopt the WSP and those that are not, across four different countries. Our results show variation in WSP adoption based on the country’s legal requirements. We suggest that government regulations are important for promoting the implementation of WSPs by utility organizations and to secure and supply clean water to customers. Such regulations would reduce conspiracy and avoidance actions by organizations that limit the use of WSPs.

KEYWORDS:

• Institutional theory
• isomorphic pressure
• multiple case study
• strategic responses
• water safety plan

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).