Enhancing responsiveness and consistency: Comparing the collective use of discretion and discretionary room at inspectorates in<scp>E</scp>ngland and the<scp>N</scp>etherlands

Abstract

Abstract Discretion used to be considered a feature of individuals, but growing literature shows that it has collective features as well. To develop an understanding of the individual and cooperative work of inspectors in using discretion and the discretionary room granted to them, we compared two inspectorates: the C are Q uality C ommission ( CQC ) in E ngland and the J oint I nspectorate for Y outh ( JIY ) in the N etherlands. Our analysis reveals that inspectors engage with colleagues, managers, and stakeholders to include other perspectives, gain mandate, and broaden their repertoire. At the CQC , inspectors use their discretion collectively; on their own initiative, they involve others in balancing and interpreting rules to reach judgments. At the JIY , teamwork is central and regulatory teams are granted collective discretionary room. We argue that collective work permits both responsiveness and consistency. In studying the judgments of inspectors and other street‐level bureaucrats, it is vital to look at collective work and how it combines consistency and responsiveness.