Abstract
Contemporary governments are faced with new challenges emanating from globalisation, economic competition, new forms of governance and an increasing interplay between the state, economy and civil society. To accomplish its primary task, the executive needs the support of highly trained public managers with management and leadership skills. With the introduction of new public management on 1st January 2006, the canton of Aargau has laid the ground for the delegation of management tasks from elected political leaders to public managers.