When management concepts enter the public sector: a dual-level translation perspective

We introduce a dual-level translation perspective to advance new understandings of how management concepts are modified when they enter the public sector. We concentrate on translation at two levels; the field and the organizational level, and illustrate the workings of this dual approach by studying Leadership Pipeline in Danish municipalities. Our analysis reveals how the original Leadership Pipeline translated into a “Public Sector Leadership Pipeline”, and how this “field level model” inspired municipalities and their translations. We suggest that changing a management concept before it enters specific organizations helps organize a better fit between public values and traveling management concepts.