Comparing public and private management: Theoretical expectations

Abstract

This article presents a theoretical assessment of how the impact of management might differ in public versus private organizations. It essentially seeks to reframe the debate from "are public organizations are different from private organizations?" to "is the impact of management action the same in both sectors?" We start with a series of assumptions based on a set of relevant variables and then using an existing theory of management derive how management might have more or less impact in the public sector compared to the private sector. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Inc. All rights reserved.