ABSTRACT
Interviewing the Experts: Small City Leadership A great deal can be learned by conducting library research into the experiences of local economies and the leadership, both public and private, of the communities in which they are located. Much can also be learned by talking to the men and women who led those communities through the evolutionary phases of the local economic condition. Most often, those who write about their individual experiences do so within the context of their native communities. This can yield a wealth of lessons about what does or does not work in given sets of circumstances and can then be compared with the conclusions of other leaders in other communities undergoing similar events and conditions. Over time, the cumulative knowledge of these histories can yield some understanding about trends and the effectiveness of various strategies that have been employed.
