NPM has these key features:

• The use of private sector management practices (predominantly accounting practices, but also project management) in public service.
• The redefinition of students as "customers" and parents and teachers as "stakeholders".
• Shifting away from policy frameworks towards direct and interventionist management.
• Strengthening the power of central units to steer the system.
• Ensuring performance through control, accountability and inspection.
• Optimizing information technology and the use of data.
• Strengthening regulatory control - e.g. introduction of teaching standards, leadership standards, etc.
• Developing competition and choice through enabling private and public services to co-exist and compete, especially in health, education and prison services.
• Less focus on process management and more focus on outcomes and results.
• Elimination of waste, duplication and "red tape" so as to secure "efficiencies".