difference between public administration And private administration.

Public administration and private administration are two species of the same genus,
namely administration. But administration exercises great power, more in public
administration. Public administration is often compared with private administration with
a view to finding out similarities and dissimilarities between the two. Both the ‘classical
organisation theory’ and ‘human relation theory’ first originated in private administration.
The management of affairs by private individuals or body of individuals is private
administration while management of affairs by central, state or local government is public
administration. There are some points of similarity between public and private administration.
However, there are some basic differences between the public and private administration. The
following are the important differences between the two types of administration.

(a). Political Direction
In public administration there is political direction. The administers under public
administration has to carry out the orders which he gets from the political executive with
no option of his own.

(b). Profit Motive
Public administration is conducted with the motive of service while the motive of
private administration is profit making. If private administration is useful to the public,
its service to it is a by-product of profit making. Private administration will never
undertake a work if it does not bring profit.

(c). Service and cost
In public administration there is an intimate relationship between service rendered
and the cost of the service charged from the public. Only such amount of money is raised
by taxation, which is necessary for the rendering of service. In private administration
income of funds exceeds expenditure because there is usually an attempt to extract as such
money as possible from the public.
(d). Nature of Functions
Public administration is more comprehensive. It deals with the various types of the
needs of the people. In a socialist State the scope of State is still larger. Private
administration does not cover so many aspects of human life. It mostly concerned with the
economics needs of life.
(e). Efficiency
It is considered by many that in public administration efficiency is less. Because of
extravagance, redtapism, and corruption, which may dominate in public administration it,
may not be in a position to function in an efficient manner. But in private administration
the level of efficiency is superior to public administration. The incentive of more profits
impels the individuals to devote him more to work.

(f). Public Responsibility
Public administration has responsibility to the public. It has to face the criticism of
the public, press, and political parties. The private administration does not have any great
responsibility towards the public. It is only responsible to the people indirectly and that
too for securing its own ends and not for the welfare of the people.

(g). Public Relations
The public and private administration also differs on the principles of public
relations. Public relations have a narrower content in public administration than in private
administration.
(h). Uniform Treatment
Public administration is consistent in procedure and uniform in dealings with the
public. In such a system a civil servant cannot show favour to some people and disfavour
to others. But private administration need not bother much about uniformity in treatment.

(i). Monopolistic
In the field of public administration, there is generally a monopoly of the
government and it does not allow private parties to compete with it. For example, no
person can establish post and telegraph, railways etc. But in private administration, several
individuals or organizations compete with each other to supply the same commodity or
meet the same needs. Thus there is no monopoly in private administration.

(j). Financial meticulousness
Public administration has to very careful in financial matters. Public money is to
be spend meticulously and according to the prescribed procedure. It is the legislature,
which exercises financial control over executive. But there is no difference between
finance and administration in private administration. There is no external financial control.

(k). Social Prestige
Public Administration carries a greater social prestige than private administration.
Service to the community is the basic characterising public administration.

(l). Social Consequence
The social consequence of public administration will be great because a defect in it
will do more harm to the public. But in private administration this will be less. Even if any
harm is done by it will be of less significance and thereby may be negligible.
So this is all about the difference between public administration And private administration.