The complex relationship between levels of management in Swedish predator management

Frontline managers, i.e. managers who are positioned at the interface between citizens and the state, have the opportunity to affect the delivery of public policies. They convert political decisions into action and they form... [ view full abstract ]

Frontline managers, i.e. managers who are positioned at the interface between citizens and the state, have the opportunity to affect the delivery of public policies. They convert political decisions into action and they form the core of many public decisions, through interaction and communication with both recipients of public policy decisions and upper management levels. This study focuses on the interaction between levels of management in large carnivore management in Sweden. It takes theoretical departure in Kaufman’s (1960) capital study of administrative behaviors steering the US Forest Service of the 1950s. Kaufman found that, despite multiple objectives and tasks, the forest management efficiently performed the goals set by central top leadership. This was possible through a management system which monitored and controlled the decision making process, and corrected deviations and provided identification with the beliefs and values of the central organization. Since 1970, several factors have contributed to change the dynamics of interaction between levels of management. The most relevant is the entry of public participation. Previously, decisions were made based on shared values, or decision premises, among members. In recent years, diverse, powerful, and active outside audiences are now taking part of the decision making. In such environment, the work of frontline managers becomes crucial in order to balance and align policy goals with the need to enhance public involvement. The study deals with how wildlife managers handle the translation of political goals and strategies into local administrative praxis, focusing particularly on how collaborative measures impact on their work and how they solve the challenges and dilemmas arising from balancing different interests and demands.