Public Risk Management in Greece: The Tone of the Top

Abstract

This study examines the perceptions of top-level decision makers in Greek public interest organizations regarding key enablers and barriers to risk management implementation. Despite the strategic importance of risk governance globally, empirical evidence from the Greek public sector remains sparse. Based on structured interviews and quantitative Likert-scale responses, the findings confirm that organizational size and the managerial experience of public administrators are perceived as critical drivers of effective risk management. Conversely, complexity in procedures, legislative overload, and the absence of a risk-aware culture emerge as the principal constraints. The study emphasizes the centrality of leadership, the “tone at the top”, in shaping risk management practices, offering novel evidence for both scholars and policy practitioners.