How Municipal Development Leaders Experienced Their Professional Role and Responsibility

• The purpose of this study has been to explore how municipal development leaders experienced their professional role and responsibility while working to support urban development at development departments in city constituencies in Gothenburg. An explorative approach was used and 18 interviews were conducted and qualitatively analyzed. Development leaders’ expertise and their professional contributions were not utilized effectively. Instead of being a force to be reckoned with through their contributions to urban development, their initiatives, professionalism and concern did not lead to any kind of actual decisions or development, but only to feelings of personal resignation. The intention has not been fulfilled of professionally enhancing urban development by employing evelopment leaders at development departments on the city constituency level. The reasons are that the development leaders’ work assignment was only vaguely described and that the organizational and managerial structure was inadequately defined. Limitations and shortcomings are discussed in relation to work assignments, organizational structure, professionalization, and urban development work, based on municipal development leaders’ experiences of their role and responsibility.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

Keyword

municipal development leader; professional role; responsibility; explorative approach; qualitative study

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)