Research limitations/implications – The practitioner-researcher approach provided particular
insights to this paper, which may not be apparent otherwise. One of the principal findings was that
there appeared to be an absence of coordinated independent research relating to management theory
and councils’ service delivery, as opposed to private sector applications of theory and practice, which
appears unbalanced, especially given that the public sector is one of the largest employers in the UK.
Simply transferring private sector performance management approaches without scrutiny and
amendment to the different cultural and structural working environment within councils would
appear imperfect and likely to create ad hoc success. These findings relate specifically to councils’
waste services but may have a relevance outwith these operations.