Managing Local Government

Kimberly L. Nelson is associate professor of public administration and government at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, following six years in the Division of Public Administration at Northern Illinois University. Her research and teaching interests focus on local government management, local government form and structure, and innovation in local government. Her research on the effects of form of government on municipal performance and innovation have been published in leading journals including The American Review of Public Administration, Urban Affairs Review, and State and Local Government Review. She is also the author of book chapters and a regular presenter and participant at the conferences of the International City/County Management Association and the American Society for Public Administration. Dr. Nelson uses her research experience to inform her client work with local governments in strategic planning and improving local government-administrative relations, as well as to train local government leaders in promoting innovative practices. She received her Ph.D. in public administration from North Carolina State University.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorsChapter 1 • Managing Local Governments in a Dynamic WorldPurpose and Organization of the BookThe Contemporary Context: Continuity and ChangeThe Intergovernmental Landscape: Who’s in Charge?Managing Challenges: Critical Competencies for Closing the GapChapter 2 • U.S. Local Governments in Historical ContextEarly Development of American Cities: 1700–1900Urban Population GrowthThe Progressive EraPost-Progressive Era Metropolitan DevelopmentLooking ForwardChapter 3 • Types, Functions, and Authority of U.S. Local GovernmentsU.S. Local Government AuthorityLocal Government Types and DistributionRegional Models of Local Government StructureLocal Forms of GovernmentChapter 4 • Working across BoundariesStressed Local StructureReform PerspectivesThe Manager’s Key Transcending RoleFrom Cooperation to Governance: Snow White and the 17 DwarfsState Restructuring IncentivesRegional Cooperation: Looking ForwardChapter 5 • The Career of the Local Government ManagerLocal Government Manager ProfilesWorking as a Local Government ManagerRoles of the Local Government ManagerManagers as LeadersThe Local Government Manager as Organizational LeaderThe Manager’s Code of EthicsMaking the Case for a Career in Local Government ManagementChapter 6 • Roles and RelationshipsMayoral Authority and RolesBasics of Council–Manager Relationships: A North Carolina ExampleRealities of Council–Manager Roles and ResponsibilitiesChanging Roles and RelationshipsChapter 7 • Enhancing Council–Manager EffectivenessHigh-Performing HabitsThe Manager’s Facilitating RoleMutual ExpectationsRecognizing and Dealing with Problems in the Governing BodyChapter 8 • Citizen EngagementWhy Engage Citizens?History of U.S. Citizen EngagementObjectives of Citizen ParticipationEngagement ChallengesFrom Participation to PowerE-Government EngagementMaking Engagement WorkChapter 9 • Service Delivery Strategies and InnovationWho Does What? Government-to-Government ApproachesWho Does What? Public–Private PartnershipsOther Alternative Service Delivery ToolsKey QuestionsBuilding Capacity for InnovationChapter 10 • The Manager’s ToolboxBuilding Organizational CapacityThe Manager’s ToolboxThe Journey from Planning and Measurement to ManagementUsing the Tools as ManagerChapter 11 • Emerging Issues and Management Challenges Facing Local GovernmentsWicked Problems Facing Local GovernmentsCurrent and Emerging Issues for Local GovernmentsSkills Needed in Future ManagersTackling Wicked ProblemsConclusionAppendix 1: International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Code of Ethics with GuidelinesAppendix 2: International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Practices for Effective Local Government ManagementIndex

Managing Local Government: An Essential Guide for Municipal and County Managers takes on a critical topic—governing in urban areas. This text is very readable for an undergraduate audience with limited knowledge of local government and provides solid discussion of the role of the city manager in local government.