We are no longer confronted with several administrative sciences but with one which can be applied equally well to public and private affairs. Discuss the differences between Public and Private Administration.

Answer:

Nature of functions: Public administration differs from business administration in the nature of the functions performed by it. Like: a. It is more comprehensive than private administration, that is, it covers a wider range of activities. b. Its activities are more urgent and vital for the very existence of society.

• Its services, sometimes, tend to be monopolistic, for example, defence and national security.
• One of the interesting areas of discussion concerning the nature of Public Administration is public versus private administration. Public and Private administration are often compared and contrasted, though there are some thinkers like Henry Fayol, Mary P. Follett, Luther Gullick, and LyndallUrwick believe that all administration is one and exhibits and they maintain the view that all administration, whether public or business, is one and possess the same basic features. For example, Fayol says, “The meaning which I have given to the word administration and which has been generally adopted, broadens considerably the field of administrative science. It embraces not only the public service, enterprises of every size and description, of every form and every purpose. All undertakings require planning, organisation, command, coordination and control, and in order to function properly, all must observe the same general principles. We are no longer confronted with several administrative sciences, but with one which can be applied equally well to public and private affairs.
• Differences as expounded by other leading administrative thinkers: Public administration is different from private administration in terms of the environment (that is, institutional setting) which it operates. Paul H. Appleby, Sir Josia Stamp, Herbert A. Simon and Peter Drucker, unlike H. Fayol, M.P. Follett, and L. Urwick, beautifully made a distinction between public administration and private administration, as demonstrated below:

Paul Appleby’s perception: According to him, public administration is different from private administration in three aspects:

(a) Political character

(b) Breadth of scope, impact and consideration

(c) Public accountability.

Josia Stamp’s perception: According to him, public administration differs from business administration in four aspects:

(a) Principle of uniformity

(b) Principle of external financial control

(c) Principle of public responsibility

(d) Principle of service motive.

Herbert Simon’s perception: According to him, the distinction between public administration and private administration lies in the popular imagination which relates to three points, as follows:

(a) Public administration is bureaucratic, whereas private administration is business-like.

(b) Public administration is political, while private administration is non-political.

(c) Public administration is characterized by red-tape, while private administration is free from it.

Peter Drucker’s perception: According to him, public administration (service institution) is basically different from private administration (business institution). To quote him, “It is different in its purpose. It has different values. It needs different objectives. And it makes a different contribution to society. ‘Performance and results’ are quite different in a service institution from what they are in a business institution. ‘Managing for performance’ is one area in which the service institution differs significantly from business institution.”

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