DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Herbert A. Simon distinguishes between Public and Private Administration:

Public Administration is bureaucratic, while Private Administration is business-oriented.
Public Administration is political, while Private Administration is non-political.
Public Administration is characterized by red-tapism, whereas, Private Administration is not.

According to Sir Josiah Stamp, 4 principles differentiate Public from Private Administration:

Principle of Uniformity: common laws regulate Public Administration.
Principle of External Financial Control: People’s representatives, through a legislative body, controls government revenue and expenditure.
Principle of Ministerial Responsibility: Public Administration is accountable to its political affiliates and the people.
Principle of Marginal Return: The main objective of a business is profit making. This is not always the case in Public Administration.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Both require similar skills and technique to meet the set objectives.
Both serve the people, either in services or products.
Both run hierarchical system- superior/subordinate relationship.
Profit motive is applicable to both; with an increasing applicability in a modernized public administration setting.

M1:S7 - Distinctions & Similarities between Private and Public Administration

The Scope of Public Administration