ABSTRACT
The use of sophisticated tools is a primary characteristic that distinguishes man from the rest of the animal kingdom. Tools extend the reaches of our mental and physical capabilities. The term management tools refers to the methods, systems, and devices used by political leaders and municipal managers to carry out the work of government. The common focus for all the tools is the management process—planning, implementing, and evaluating. Management tools provide information that political leaders, municipal managers, public employees, and citizens need in order to make informed decisions about community needs, define alternative ways to satisfy these needs, and evaluate the success with which an alternative is implemented. The chapter discusses the management uses of data processing and the impact of data-processing support on the management process. It describes not only the charter’s role but also the roles of other factors in preventing the development of a responsive organizational structure.
