Comparing Public and Private Management: An Exploratory Essay

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.