Abstract
This paper explores the research question of how publicly reported quality assurance (QA) review results of public service providers can impact the accountability in policy-making networks that have been created with the scope of reforming such public service provision. It does that by combining different theoretical concepts of two different perspectives in public administration: new public management and networked governance. The research uses empirical data collected from semi-structured qualitative interviews to construct a working conceptual model. Results of thematic analysis suggest that publicly reported QA is expected to have a positive impact on accountability through six various mechanisms: creating an accountability environment, getting access to information on performance, promoting self-accountability, having more control, balancing of power, and managing expectations. The emergent developing focal theory will then be used to collect more data to validate the constructed key and sub-propositions.