ABSTRACT
The role of individual person in processes of public sector innovation is seen as important but it is still not well understood. Doig and Hargrove (1987, 2) emphasize that much of the literature on public innovation prefers to focus on structural factors since the role of individual persons appears difficult to treat when the researcher’s goal is generalization. Although some assume that characteristics of creative individuals could be identified (Roberts and King 1991, 1996), Georgiades and Phillimore (1975) have convincingly argued that the ‘hero-innovator’ does not exist. This provocative statement, however, does not mean that individuals do not make a difference. Osborne (1998) highlights that the role of individuals needs to be understood within organizational and institutional contexts, and general characteristics of innovative individuals cannot be identified.
