From exemplary practitioners to urban chameleons? The role of the citizen in the redistribution of tasks in local governance

Abstract

This article further theorizes exemplary practitioners' roles in neighborhood governance by building on the framework of the four ideal types of practitioners-frontline worker, everyday fixer, social entrepreneur and boundary spanner. An actor-focused approach was applied which delivered data to reconstruct processes in which a single citizen practitioner engaged in an Amsterdam neighborhood. Data were collected through shadowing and interviewing him for 2 months. It is shown how this exemplary practitioner combined and switched between the role characteristics of the four generic types, just like chameleon, during his interactions with other actors in various situations and contexts. During this dynamic role switching, he took on the tasks of a community developer, previously delivered by civil servants. He also facilitated stakeholder collaboration leading to more inclusive and democratic local governance. However, role switching caused him to loose the trust of some citizens on the long term. These findings gain relevance in the context of the reorganization of the Dutch welfare state.

Boundary Spanning in Local Governance: A Scoping Review

“…Seven studies drew on surveys and two on focus groups. The studies included a wide range in sample size, from an in-depth ethnographic study of one practitioner (Kovács, 2020), to interviews of over 200 participants (Lindsay et al, 2021), to a survey with 385 participants (McCuaig et al, 2019). The median sample size across the studies is 37.5 (excluding non-empirical papers).…”

“…Nissen (2010, p. 379), examining successful youth work professionals, reported that: “Their ability to adapt to local circumstances allowed them to gain power and access across diverse groups. Failure to do this risked alienating one of these groups, impeding progress toward the vision.” Similarly, Kovács (2020, p. 140) pointed to effective boundary spanners’ “extensive knowledge of local conditions and ‘holistic problem orientation’, which allows them to prioritize the complex and interrelated neighbourhood problems.” Further, in a boundary-spanning role aimed at addressing labor market inclusion, Lindsay et al (2021, p. 932) emphasize the importance of “deep community knowledge.” This seems to refer to an in-depth understanding of the various issues and concerns at play in a community as well as to its sources of strength.…”

Transformational Leadership Qualities of Effective Grassroots Refugee-Led Organizations

“…In exhibiting the multiple behaviors of transformational leadership (Podsakoff et al 1990), the ECBO leaders of this study engage in a type of role switching dynamic (Kovács 2020). That is, these effective leaders, due to both necessity and devotion, find themselves moving across diverse responsibilities ranging from the most commonplace, such as showing someone how to use a public bus system, to establishing a long-term community vision.…”