000			01630pab a2200217 454500
008			180718b2016 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
100			_aSmith-Ruig, Theresa
245			_aSlow change at the top: 'old hands' and 'accidental executives' in New South Wales local government
260			_c2016
300			_ap.89-99.
362			_aMar
520			_aScholars and practitioners alike have recognised that an increased role for women leaders in Australian local government would strengthen the sector, yet little research to date has examined the career paths of non-elected officials. This article combines the gender in organisations literature with career theory to examine the career paths of 16 general managers (GMs) in New South Wales. We found that half the participants had linear career paths based entirely within local government and half had boundaryless careers originating outside the sector. This second cohort consisted overwhelmingly of women. Nevertheless, a high incidence of happenstance characterised both career types. Several participants saw themselves pitted against a gendered (i.e. male) group of old hands who were resistant to change being driven by accidental executives, a high proportion of whom were women. The findings have implications for a sector attempting to attract and retain skilled staff, particularly women. - Reproduced.
650			_aManagers
650			_aWomen executives
650			_aCareer development
650			_aLocal government
700			_aSheridan, Alison
700			_aGrant, Bligh
773			_aAustralian Journal of Public Administration
909			_a110494
999			_c110489 _d110489