The public sector entrepreneur - A definition

Abstract

Since the early 1980s there have been fundamental changes in the structure and management of the UK public sector, based on the introduction of quasi-markets. The literature suggests that, for markets to operate at their maximum level of efficiency, there is an overwhelming need for entrepreneurial activity. Attempts through a synthesis of the published literature, surveys of educational and health managers and case examples, to determine whether a new strain of leadership the public sector entrepreneur - is emerging to display many of the characteristics of their business counterparts.