According, when public administrators take risks, they are not entrepreneurs of their own businesses who can make such decisions knowing that the consequences of failure will fall largely on their own shoulders. Risk in the public sector is different. In the New Public Service, risks and opportunities reside within the larger framework of democratic citizenship and shared responsibility. Because the consequences of either success or failure are not limited to a private business concern, public administrators do not single-handedly decide what is best for a community. This need not mean that all short-term opportunities are lost. If dialog and citizen engagement are ongoing, opportunities and potential risks can be explored in a timely manner. The important factor to consider is whether the benefits of a public administrator’s taking immediate and risky action in response to an opportunity outweigh the cost to trust, collaboration, and the sense of shared responsibility.