City Executives
Leadership Roles, Work Characteristics, and Time Management
Published on 27. December 1988
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-88706-958-1 (ISBN)
Description
This study explores the work life of mayors, city managers, and other top executives in city government. Based on a survey of 527 city executives and enlivened with numerous anecdotes, the book documents time allocation patterns and work routines.
City Executives makes comparisons with previous studies to show how city executives compare with managers in other types of organizations. The authors also note how city managers' role has changed over a 20-year period. City executives are shown to be like their private-sector counterparts. For example, they function at a relentless pace, are frequently interrupted in their work, and are generally overburdened. However, because city workers operate in an environment open to public scrutiny, they are left with only a minority of their professional time to attend to matters that they describe as priorities. Instead, they must constantly respond to intergovernmental demands, emergencies, and the needs of citizens and legislative officials.
City Executives makes comparisons with previous studies to show how city executives compare with managers in other types of organizations. The authors also note how city managers' role has changed over a 20-year period. City executives are shown to be like their private-sector counterparts. For example, they function at a relentless pace, are frequently interrupted in their work, and are generally overburdened. However, because city workers operate in an environment open to public scrutiny, they are left with only a minority of their professional time to attend to matters that they describe as priorities. Instead, they must constantly respond to intergovernmental demands, emergencies, and the needs of citizens and legislative officials.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Albany, NY
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Total Illustrations: 0
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
227 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-88706-958-1 (9780887069581)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
David N. Ammons is Research Associate of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. Charldean Newell is Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas.
Content
Figures and Tables
Preface
1. Introduction
Scope and Purpose
Method
What the Book is Not
Organization of the Book
2. An Executive is an Executive is An Executive?
Leadership: What It's All About
What is a Leader?
What Do Executives Do?
In What Envrionment Do They Do It?
Good Genes and the "Right Stuff": Dimensions of Effectiveness
It All Depends on the Situation
Summary
3. Contemporary Views of Local Government Executive Roles
Reformism in American Government
City Manager Role Perceptions
Political Leadership
Chief Executive Roles in the Mid-1980s
Comparison with Wright's 1965 Findings
Conclusions about the 1985 Study
Summary
4. Not Enough Hours in a Day
Long Hours
Times Allocation
Varied Roles and Fragmented Activities
Demands, Foci, and Activities in Executive Work
Control over Time
Summary
5. Analysis of Time Allocation Patterns
Correlation
Demands
Foci of Work
Work Activities
Relationships across Work Dimensions
Summary
6. Explaining Variations in the Work of Local Governments Executives
Level of the Job
Public versus Private
Organization Size
Managerial Level
Managerial Dyads
Alternative Explanations for Work Variations
Summary
7. Time Management
Where Does the Time Go?
Is There a Better Way?
Stress: The Product of Failed Time Management
A Matter of Style
Summary
8. Conclusions
Aspects of Managerial Work
Prospects for Time Management
The Future
Appendix
Notes
Index
Preface
1. Introduction
Scope and Purpose
Method
What the Book is Not
Organization of the Book
2. An Executive is an Executive is An Executive?
Leadership: What It's All About
What is a Leader?
What Do Executives Do?
In What Envrionment Do They Do It?
Good Genes and the "Right Stuff": Dimensions of Effectiveness
It All Depends on the Situation
Summary
3. Contemporary Views of Local Government Executive Roles
Reformism in American Government
City Manager Role Perceptions
Political Leadership
Chief Executive Roles in the Mid-1980s
Comparison with Wright's 1965 Findings
Conclusions about the 1985 Study
Summary
4. Not Enough Hours in a Day
Long Hours
Times Allocation
Varied Roles and Fragmented Activities
Demands, Foci, and Activities in Executive Work
Control over Time
Summary
5. Analysis of Time Allocation Patterns
Correlation
Demands
Foci of Work
Work Activities
Relationships across Work Dimensions
Summary
6. Explaining Variations in the Work of Local Governments Executives
Level of the Job
Public versus Private
Organization Size
Managerial Level
Managerial Dyads
Alternative Explanations for Work Variations
Summary
7. Time Management
Where Does the Time Go?
Is There a Better Way?
Stress: The Product of Failed Time Management
A Matter of Style
Summary
8. Conclusions
Aspects of Managerial Work
Prospects for Time Management
The Future
Appendix
Notes
Index