Comparing Public and Private Management: An Exploratory Essay

H istorically in America two different institutional approaches to management science have developed: one in the private sector and one in the public sector. This dual development, however, has not gone unchallenged. For perhaps two generations scholars and practitioners have realized that management can be viewed as a generic process, with universal implications and with application in any institutional setting-whether a private firm or a public agency. More recently, on the assumption that public and private management have much to share, a new body of literature has developed around the idea of general management. Especially significant, entire new management schools are being founded on the generic model. The historic "separate but equal" doctrine is being challenged by a nascent integrationist movement. Like the movement in the race area, however, the integrationist policy is not progressing with "due speed." There are many reasons for this. One is the traditional mistrust or misunderstanding between the public and private practitioner. Another is the perceived threat which the merger poses to free-standing schools of business and to schools of public administration. A more significant reason perhaps, is the lack of development of the concept that public and private management have points in common. If one examines the literature, or pages through the brochures of the new schools of management, there is little specific comparative analysis that is discussion of points where public and private management converge or diverge. The important question then is what are the areas of comparison; and what specifically are the similarities and differences? In short, are public and private management comparable? The central purpose of this article is to explore * Historically in America two branches of management science have developed: one in the private sector and one in the public sector. Recently, this conventional taxonomy has been challenged and around the country there is emerging a more generic approach to management. This article argues that management has universal applications whether it be in the profit or business sector or in the non-profit public sector. While there are important distinctions to be made, this article concludes that management in the private sector and in the public sector are more similar than different.