Current Search: Hanbury, George Lafayette, II (x)
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Title
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The function of leadership styles and personality types among city managers: An analysis of "fit" and tenure.
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Creator
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Hanbury, George Lafayette, II, Florida Atlantic University, Washington, Charles W.
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Abstract/Description
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This dissertation investigated the problem of short-term tenure of city managers as an indicator of the appropriate "fit" between the personality types and leadership styles of city managers and the city councils they serve. Moving from theory to practice in public administration, this research presents findings, not offered to date, based on a rigorous, nation-wide study of city managers. The study focuses on years of service - tenure of city managers as a function of the city managers'...
Show moreThis dissertation investigated the problem of short-term tenure of city managers as an indicator of the appropriate "fit" between the personality types and leadership styles of city managers and the city councils they serve. Moving from theory to practice in public administration, this research presents findings, not offered to date, based on a rigorous, nation-wide study of city managers. The study focuses on years of service - tenure of city managers as a function of the city managers' personality types, leadership styles, and perceptions of support from their city councils. Results of the study were generated through an analysis of data collected in a national survey of city managers, endorsed by the Executive Director of the International City/County Management Association (ICA), using three self-administered instruments: a general demographic city manager questionnaire, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator(RTM)-Form G (MBTI(RTM) Form G), and the Leader Behavior Analysis II(RTM)-Self (LBAII(RTM)-Self). A theoretical model, "Fit," was created and tested, and the variable relations were found to be statistically significant. The findings revealed that "Fit," measured as years of service - tenure, is a function of the manager's leadership effectiveness and personality compatibility with the orientation and expectations of the city council as indicated by the annual performance evaluation. The findings were tested through predicted values and were confirmed through three case studies of city managers, with long tenure, and their city councils in small, medium, and large cities. Independent variables found to significantly affect, positively or adversely, the dependent variable, years of service - tenure, were: leadership effectiveness scores; personality type dimensions, Introverted (I) and Perceiving (P); and city council perceptions measured by city-council-conducted performance evaluations of the city manager. Other statistically significant independent variables include: experience of the city manager; total number of cities the city manager has served; the manager's age and race; and demographic information of the city in which the city manager serves, such as median household income, cities with a predominant white population, and the percentage of population not born in the United States of America. The "Fit" Model provides a meaningful tool for present and future city managers to become conscious of their respective personality type and dominant leadership style in relationship to the culturally heterogeneous cities they lead and manage. Armed with such awareness, city managers can be empowered with the knowledge of whether they are "appropriately fitted" with the city councils and the citizens they serve.
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Date Issued
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2001
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11620
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Subject Headings
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City managers--Psychological aspects, Leadership
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Format
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Document (PDF)
