Practitioner's Perspective—Managing for 2020: An Exploration of Role Interdependence and Balance

In: Public administration review: PAR, Band 70, Heft s1

Abstract

This article examines three roles that local governments play: convening community, providing service, and creating and enforcing regulation. The author uses the concept of polarity management to explore how local governments can strike a balance among these roles, and explores how individual employees and organizations can disrupt that balance by favoring individual roles. Particular focus is placed on local government deficiency in employing the community convener or community engagement role.