ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the outstanding literature on policy entrepreneurship in detail, showing how the framework can help academics to tackle the obstacles in securing policy impact for their work. Policy entrepreneurship is essentially about influencing society with persuasive arguments made to decision makers. It demands vision and a sustained commitment combined with sound administration and good operational management. Business entrepreneurs are concerned with achieving competitive advantage, and their success is ultimately measured by sales and profits. Entrepreneurial profit cannot be easily equated with the policy entrepreneur as it is possible to have an altruistic or civic-orientated form of policy entrepreneurship that focuses on the benefits to society from the introduction of innovative policy ideas. The three main ways in which research is used in policy making are instrumental, symbolic and conceptual. Policy makers often hear about research outcomes through lobbyists and interest groups who use them to advance their own political or ideological views.
