The new era leadership for the public sector? Entrepreneurship, effectiveness, and democracy

Amidst severe global crises, governments are under pressure to deliver appropriate outcomes to society and create a resilient future. Therefore, public managers started to consider the benefits that entrepreneurial leadership may offer; however, some scholars argue that entrepreneurial leaders act anti-democratically. Using data from Australia (n = 104,471), this study investigates whether entrepreneurial leaders enhance the effectiveness of public organizations, while also upholding democratic principles. The results suggest that the adoption of entrepreneurship by public managers positively influences the ability of both achieving organizational goals and enacting a democratic culture where staff is consulted and participates openly in decision-making.