Professional Identification and City Managers: An Analysis of a National Survey

Abstract

This article examines the determinants of professional identification of city managers in U.S. local governments. This study explores Marvick's and Gouldner's theories on professional identification and applies these theories to whether city managers in local governments view themself as a professional, institutionalist, or hybrid. An analysis of a national survey of city managers in U.S. local governments is used to examine differences. Through descriptive statistics, this article first found out that the hybrid theory is more closely aligned with city managers' professional identification. Second, through factor analysis the empirical results further supported the hybrid model. Finally, the logistic regression model showed that professional development activities of the city manager, not professional identification, predicted having a graduate degree in public administration/affairs. The findings from this study showed that more empirical research should be conducted examining professional identification of public managers.

Professionalism among Icelandic Mayors: Job Postings, Experience and Education as Determinants of Professionalism at the Icelandic Local Level

“…There are, however, no clear definitions of the type of education needed, and the phrase 'preferred but not necessary' appears regularly. This stands in direct contrast to the situation of American city managers, in which an MPA degree seems to be synonymous with 'relevant education' (Watson & Hassett 2004;Reddick & Demir 2014). Good communication skills and leadership qualities are also crucial.…”

“…and a threat to top-down hierarchical control by elected officials as professional norms become more important than community responsiveness (Fox 1992;Reddick & Demir 2014). On the other end of the continuum, however, we find those who believe that professionalism entails a set of internal standards which safeguard us from politicians' arbitrary and opportunistic decision making (Fox 1992).…”

“…Therefore, we need professionalism in order to maintain a functioning government and to preserve democracy (Reddick & Demir 2014). This paper addresses two research questions in analysing the level of professionalism in Icelandic local leadership:…”

“…This is not very surprising, as these individuals are the ones most often criticised for being unprofessional. This discussion is a part of a larger debate on the concept of professionalism (Fox 1992;Reddick & Demir 2014;Jacobsen 2009;Ammons 2008;Berg & Rao 2005). Thus, when political mayors emphasise their professionalism, they do so from the perspective that they belong to a specific profession and that this makes them professional (Hekman et al 2009).…”

“…Professionalism in public administration has been shaped by the idea that it is possible to identify elements of professionalisation against which practices may be compared (Fox 1992;Reddick & Demir 2014). Jacobsen (2009, 64) pointed out that the minimum requirement for the existence of a profession is a well-defined level of specialisation, formal higher education geared toward that profession and the possibility of creating a career.…”