Organizing and Institutionalizing Local Sustainability
A Design Approach

Local government managers play a major but under-studied role in advancing the sustainability missions of cities.

Aaron Deslatte (Author)

9781009101363, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 December 2022

75 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 0.6 cm, 0.15 kg

This Element explores the role of public managers as designers. Drawing from systems-thinking and strategic management, a process-tracing methodology is used to examine three design processes whereby public managers develop strategies for adapting to climate change, build the requisite capabilities and evaluate outcomes. Across three cases, the findings highlight the role of managers as 'design- oriented' integration agents and point to areas where additional inquiry is warranted. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

1. Introduction: design processes in local sustainability
2. Strategy assemblage: designing conceptual futures in south bend
3. Recovery and realignment: organizational capabilities and their codification in Bloomington
4. Reverse-Engineering performance: outcome identification in Indianapolis
5. Institutionalizing design processes: challenges and future directions for managing city sustainability
Glossary of terms
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Sustainability [RNU], Public administration [JPP], Social welfare & social services [JKS]