Mayors’ leadership roles in direct participation processes – the case of community-owned wind farms

Abstract

Purpose The design of participation processes influences their effectiveness. In light of processes which include both mandated and non-mandated direct participation and take place in collaboration with other actors, adequate leadership roles are an indispensable but challenging process element. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how mayors exercise leadership roles in such processes and how this relates to effective participation processes. Design/methodology/approach Applying a qualitative comparative case study design (n=7), this study investigates mayors’ leadership roles relative to other actors’ roles in the process of establishing a community-owned wind farm. Data collection relied on 21 semi-structured interviews, triangulated with documentary analyses and nine field-level expert interviews. Findings Findings reveal mayors’ exclusive roles of guarantor, formal convener, facilitator, and sponsor based on authority. Mayors’ various shared roles relate primarily to non-mandated participation. Mayors face tensions in their role exercise due to citizens’ expectations and their personal involvement. They experience a positive impact of shared leadership on the effectiveness of the participation process. Practical implications Mayors need to exercise specific leadership roles relative to other actors to effectively manage participation processes. Adequate role exercise relates to sensitization and mobilization for the issue, weakened opposition, and project adjustment to citizen demands. A strategic approach to process design can support mayors in their leadership efforts. Originality/value This paper adds to the knowledge on mayors’ leadership roles in participation processes and concretizes tensions and effectiveness of collaborative leadership. The paper reflects on the inference of findings for administrators as compared to mayors.

Citizen participation as an organisational challenge in local government

“…Therefore, the ideals of citizen participation also challenge the work of managers by adding expectations of new interactive skills and their role at the interface of a local government organisation within civil society (see Torfing et al, 2019). In the context of Helsinki, the role of the mayor and deputy mayors acting at the interface and representatives of the organisation and civil society was highlighted (see Wallmeier and Thaler, 2018). The results of this study complement previous research and highlight the ideal role of managers as meta-governors of citizen participation that build interactive and participative forms of governance to complement traditional governance by managing, facilitating and directing it in line with comprehensive policy goals (see Torfing and Triantafillou, 2011).…”

Project manager roles in a public change project: the case of a municipal merger

“…In the studied merger, unrest, anxiety and confusion among the employees have been reported. In light of this complex context, management of stakeholders and contextual competence are highlighted as important qualities among public managers (Wallmeier and Thaler, 2018). Indeed, collected data show that the project manager has demonstrated contextual competences such as diversity awareness, sharing information with employees, citizens and other groups, and involvement and collaboration with stakeholders.…”

“…Project managers play a crucial function in projects (Higgs et al , 2018) and are perhaps the single most important factor for successful outcomes. Although diverse research on roles for public managers exists (for example Bryson et al , 2013 and Wallmeier and Thaler, 2018), there is little knowledge on how public project managers exercise their management roles in parallel in an organizational change project. Hence, the purpose of the paper is to examine what management roles the project manager takes on in a merger and change project between two municipalities.…”

Citizen Science and Citizen Energy Communities: A Systematic Review and Potential Alliances for SDGs

“…While dedicated to the pursuit of scientific objectivity, to increase their impact, these citizen scientists should also position themselves and their research to align with both the niches of grassroots development and the broader institutional networks, which include the local industrial, political, and social interests. For example, in the EU, mayors have been identified as supporting community wind projects by acting as sponsors, champions, facilitators, conveners, or boundary spanners [91]. Many of these roles are shared and it seems citizen science projects might collaborate with the officials to both gather and distribute results to various groups within the community and beyond.…”