Chilean national policy councils: a heterogeneous type of public organization for governance

Purpose This article aims to explore, characterize and discuss the notion of the National Policy Councils (NPCs) as public organizations for governance in Chilean public management. Design/methodology/approach A subset of active NPCs of the Chilean public management was identified, characterized and analyzed following previously used schemes. Findings The results showcase heterogeneity in the design of NPCs, with differences among several key features. Proposed explanations for this heterogeneity are an evolutionary approach and the fuzziness of the concept. These notions are relevant outcomes for the academic discussion and the practical implementation of NPCs. Originality/value The novelty of this research is based on assessing NPCs of different policy domains in an intra-country analysis by comparing their main features and configuration to determine if NPCs could be understood and treated as a unique type of public organization.