The impact of alternative styles of policy leadership on the direction of local government reform

Abstract: Purpose – Alongside public agencies and private firms, non-profit organizations (NPOs) play a vital role in the delivery of human services in a number of advanced nations. The purpose of this paper is to advance a theory of leadership to try to explain how NPOs can overcome the various forms of voluntary sector failure described by Salamon. Design/methodology/approach – Examines the conditions under which leadership style is likely to prevail and the influence they are likely to have on the direction of local government reform. Findings – Advances a theory of leadership to better understand this problem and its implications for public policy. Originality/value – Adds to existing literature by demonstrating that leadership can ameliorate some kinds of voluntary sector failure.