Definition – Policy
entrepreneurs are advocates (either inside or outside of government or other groups) for policy proposals with the defining characteristic of a willingness to invest their time, energy, reputation and/or money in the hope of future return. That return could come in the form of policies which they support, satisfaction from participation, or personal advantage in the form of job security or career promotion.
Relevance to SUMP – Public authorities should identify all relevant stakeholders as well as their objectives, their power, their capacity and planning resources. It is likely that policy entrepreneurs will have a particularly strong influence on the process, either positively or negatively, so this balance of power needs to be considered when planning stakeholder involvement. The Guidelines refer to the identification of local champions and key stakeholders, whose roles require an early strategic assessment.
Source: Kingdon, 1995