Challenges in City Management: A Case Study Approach

195 Pages·2013·7.869 MB·English

by  Becky J. Starnes

Public Adminstration S
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City management in developing countries is a quickly growing area in current n American Society for Public Administration
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public administration literature. However, little research material can be found s
Series in Public Administration and Public Policy
regarding the management of cities. Demonstrating the issues in this field,
Challenges in City Management: A Case Study Approach brings the sometimes
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dry theories and concepts of urban planning and management to life. The author
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uses case studies to demonstrate “who,” “what,” “why,” and “how,” dramatically CHALLENGES IN
increasing readers’ ability to comprehend and apply the theories. A
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Incorporating urban management and organizational management theories with L
actual practice, the author presents case studies based on observations made during E CITY MANAGEMENT
her extensive experience. She offers multiple examples of common contemporary N
city topics ranging from personnel to policy-making, housing, homelessness,
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transportation, and budgeting. Each study describes and analyzes a scenario,
identifying the economic and political factors as well as the often conflicting E A Case Study Approach
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players and interest groups.

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• Presents case studies dealing with a range of contemporary topics
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in city management
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• Applies a case study methodology that develops analytic skills
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• Provides urban organizational management theory to apply to the

scenarios covered M
• Integrates discussions of urban management and organizational
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management theories
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• Offers multiple cases in areas of personnel, policy, housing and
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homelessness, transportation, and budgeting
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The book provides enhanced understanding of the complex environment city ad-
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ministrators work in, helping readers develop improved decision-making and prob-
lem-solving skills through the study of real issues city administrators have experi-
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enced. The case study methodology used supplies information that is immediately
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applicable to real-world situations, making it a resource that city administrators
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can use to improve their public administration and governance skills.
American Society for Public Administration
Series in Public Administration and Public Policy K13967
ISBN: 978-1-4398-8436-2 Becky J. Starnes
90000
www.crcpress.com 9 781439 884362
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CHALLENGES IN
CITY MANAGEMENT
A Case Study Approach
American Society for Public Administration
Book Series on Public Administration & Public Policy
evan M. Berman, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief
Mission: Throughout its history, ASPA has sought to be true to its founding principles
of promoting scholarship and professionalism within the public service. The ASPA Book
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American Society for Public Administration
American Society for Public Administration
Book Series on Public Administration & Public Policy
David H. Rosenbloom, Ph.D.
Editor-in-Chief
Mission: Throughout its history, ASPA has sought to be true to its founding principles
of promoting scholarship and professionalism within the public service. The ASPA
Book Series on Public Administration and Public Policy publishes books that increase
national and international interest for public administration and which discuss practical or
cutting edge topics in engaging ways of interest to practitioners, policy makers, and
those concerned with bringing scholarship to the practice of public administration.
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Series in Public Administration and Public Policy
CHALLENGES IN
CITY MANAGEMENT
A Case Study Approach
Becky J. Starnes
Cover photos courtesy of Brooke Diggs.
CRC Press
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Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
About the Author xv
Epigraph xvii
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Method 1
Setting 2
Overview of Chapters 3
References 5
Chapter 2 City–State Relationships and City Charters 7
Introduction 7
Case 2.1 Introduction 9
Case 2.1: The Clarksville City Charter 10
Case 2.2 Introduction 14
Case 2.2: The Quest for Home Rule 15
Author’s Note 19
Conclusion 19
References 20
Chapter 3 Urban Redevelopment 23
Introduction 23
Case 3.1 Introduction 24
Case 3.1: Welcome to Blightville 24
© 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
vii
viii • Contents
Author’s Note 30
Conclusion 31
References 31
Recommended Readings 32
Chapter 4 Authority and Power 33
Introduction 33
Case 4.1 Introduction 36
Case 4.1: It Is My Property 37
Conclusion 39
References 39
Recommended Readings 40
Chapter 5 Policy Making 41
Introduction 41
Case 5.1 Introduction 45
Case 5.1: Government Bans Synthetic Drugs 45
Case 5.2 Introduction 48
Case 5.2: Race Cars, Garbage Trucks, and Rock
Crushers 49
Conclusion 51
Author’s Note 51
References 52
Recommended Readings 53
Chapter 6 Personnel Management 55
Introduction 55
Cases 6.1 and 6.2 Introduction 57
Case 6.1: City Employees Underpaid 57
Case 6.2: Longevity Pay 61
Conclusion 63
Author’s Note 63
References 64
Recommended Readings 65
Chapter 7 Electric Utilities 67
Introduction 67
Cases 7.1 and 7.2 Introduction 68
Case 7.1: Clarksville Department of Electricity 69
Case 7.2: The Power Board 70
Conclusion 73
Author’s Note 73
© 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC