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Wolfe’s ideas have provided the guidance necessary for us to connect the responsibilities, roles,
and values of contemporary local government managers with their competencies.

The accompanying figure summarizes the responsibilities, roles, and values that underpin the
professionalism of the contemporary city or county administrator. Augmenting the figure, we
have identified what we consider the elements of competence associated with the
responsibilities, roles, and values. The figure and competencies should be viewed as
complements to the 17 practice areas ICMA has identified as the core of professionalism in local
government.

Responsibilities Roles Values

Community building. Facilitate. Representation.
Efficiency.
Modernizing the organization. Build partnerships. Individual rights.
Social equity.
Closing gaps in divergent perspectives.

Competencies: Knowledge, Skills, and Talents; Emotional
and Personal Attributes

Based on the figure then, what are the specific areas of knowledge, skills, and talents, as well as
emotional and personal attributes, that a local government professional needs to develop?

Knowledge

Knowledge of the political and policy arenas

 Understanding the role of the governing body and the staff in community building.
 Understanding the role of the local government in helping to build and maintain a sense

of community.
 Understanding the impact of regionalism and broader forces on community building.
 Understanding the differences among political, administrative, and community

perspectives and the policy-making processes where these divergent perspectives come
into play.
 Understanding how these values contribute, individually and in combination, to
community building.

Administrative knowledge

 Understanding how modernization and making information accessible to citizens affects
expectations about local government processes.

 Knowledge of better practices.
 Understanding how these values anchor democratic government and successful

relationships between elected officials and professional staff.