Entrepreneurship in the Public Sector: A Framework of Analysis in European Local Governments
Posted: 18 Nov 2009
Date Written: 2005
Abstract
The role of entrepreneurship in European public sector organizations is examined. Research was gathered on ten European local government units--five in the UK (English region of Yorkshire and Humberside) and five in Italy (the Piedmont region). Utilizing Stevenson's six-dimension framework of entrepreneurial behavior, entrepreneurial agents in these units were identified and categorized.Examination of the funding process indicates a linear sequence of "phases" that transpire to generate a given outcome. In phase one, local governments noted that competitive European structural funds were a good new funding opportunity. In phase two, an agent was identified to pursue such funding. What is needed to write successful bids (e.g., political support) is then assessed. In phase four, the initiatives needed to obtain resources (e.g., recruitment of skilled professionals) were identified. In the next phase, managerial skills were acknowledged as being vital for ensuring the process is kept running. Aspects of what motivated individuals to progress the European funding process were identified (e.g., professional visibility) were then identified in phase six. From these results, it is concluded that entrepreneurial behavior was evident in the European funding process. Five distinct types of entrepreneurial agents in the public sector are identified. The different types of entrepreneurs within the public sector do influence the patterns identified in each phase. (NEE)
Keywords: Structural funds, Public sector entrepreneurs, Experimental/primary research, Local government, Financing, Government personnel, Public sector
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