REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL
CTU-Main Campus
Corner M.J. Cuenco Ave. & R. Palma St., Cebu City
website: http://www.ctu.ph email: [email protected]
Telephone No. (032) 412-1400 Fax No. (032) 416-6706

HARNESSING TECHNOLOGICAL THEORIES AND SKILLS FOR EMPOWERMENT since 1969

Name: MARVIN DAVE C PEREZ

Subject: MPA 605 – Principles of Public Administration
Class : BATCH 14-YELLOW POINSETTIA

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LENDS ITS TWO MEANINGS:

1. IT IS USED TO DESIGNATE A PROCESS OR AN ACTVITY OF
ADMINISTERING GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.
2. IT IS USED TO DESIGNATE AN AREA OF INTELLECTUAL OR ACADEMIC
INQUIRY, A DISCIPLINE OR STUDY.S
Is Public Administration an Art or a Science?
 Art as defined by Perfecto S Sison, is proficiency in the practical application of
knowledge acquired through study, experience or observation. It is also the
use of talent for creative work.
Several social scientists support the view that public administration is an art.
White Says:
 The Art of administration is the direction, coordination, and control of many
persons to achieve some purpose or objective.
Other social scientist considers public administration as a science.
“A science”, says Sison,” is the systematic accumulation of facts, their analysis and
interpretation, and their use to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.
Majority of the social scientist view that the public administration is not yet a science,
but to some extent, it is scientific. In the process of making decisions, for instance,
public administration uses scientific techniques.

Conclusion:
There are conflicting views and opinions on this issue and each appears to be
justified in its own way. Thus, Public Administration can be regarded as both science
and art.
Public administration is in short, a fine art working with people because it summons
an imposing body of special talents on behalf of a collaborative creation which is
essential for today, and also public administration as a science because of mainly
the scientific process or scientific technique in which administration is done in order
to reach a certain objective. ( making an observation, ask questions, form a
hypothesis or testable explanation in order to reach the objective.

PRIVATE VE. PUBLIC ADMINISTRAION:

In general, the concept of administration, whether public or private, is

universal. If we understand administration to mean cooperation in the conduct of
business, then the presence of administration is essential, whether in the private
sector or in the public sector. Although the importance of administration is
recognized in both public and private sectors, the form and style of public and private
administration are not the same.
So, lets understand what are the differences and similarities between public
and private administration.

Difference: (Public and Private Administration)

1. Differences in the Definition

When the word administration is used for government activities and

organizations, it is called public administration. (All government offices) 

On the other hand, private administration refers to the activities of a private

organization. (All privately owned company or organizations)

2. Differences in Goals and Objectives

The purpose of public administration is to perform its functions keeping in

view the interest or welfare of the people. The success of government administration
depends on the protection of the public interest or the acceptance of the basic
demands of the people. The prime goal of the public administration is to implement
public policy introduced by the government.

The private administration as a whole is not engaged in public interest. Here

the administration is employed according to the needs and interests of the
management of a private or non-government organization. The main goal of the
private administration is to fulfill the personal aspirations of the owner of that
particular organization. So, it can be said that private administration is a profit-
oriented administration.
3. Differences in the Legal Framework.

Another fundamental difference between public administration and private

administration is that public administration is governed by a statutory law, which is
also created by a particular political authority. Therefore, the activities of public
administration are limited to the limits of this particular law.

Although the administration of a private organization is governed by law, there

is no obligation to do so within the limits of the law. In the case of private
administration, the director may change the law if necessary.

4. Differences in Public Accountability

Public accountability is the backbone of public administration. The

government is accountable to the people for errors in public administration. The
failure or success of the government depends on the failure or success of the public
administration. Public administration is directly accountable to the government and
indirectly accountable to the citizens.

On the other hand, private administration is not accountable to the people.

Their prime goal is to generate maximum profits. 

5. Differences in the Discretion and Freedom of Action

The discretion and freedom of action of public administration is limited

compared to the private administration. The executive branch of the government
directly controls public administration by enacting several laws in the legislative
branch of the government. 

On the other hand, private administration is not controlled by the government.

Its freedom of action is wider than public administration. Its rule regulations are
frequently changing in terms of their requirements.

6. Differences in terms of the Political Character

The most important thing which differentiates public administration from

private administration is its political character. Public administration is run by political
direction and regulation. The main task of public administration is to implement
public policies.

On the other side private administration completely separated from politics.

There is no political influence in the operation of private administration. Its functions
are directed by market forces. 

7. Differences in Approach 

The bureaucratic approach is used for running public administration, but

private administration has an egalitarian approach. 
8. Differences in Revenue or Income

The main sources of revenue of public administration are mainly taxes, duties,
fees, etc. whereas private administration generates their income from selling their
products and services. 

9. Differences in Scope

There is a big difference between public and private administration in terms of

their scope. Public administration is much wider than private administration. The
citizen can get almost every service from pubic administration like food, health
facilities, education, communication, housing, transportation, and so on. 

But on the other hand, private administration deals with those sectors from
which they earn profits. 

10. Differences in the Question of Control by Economic Interests

Public administration is usually not controlled by any economic interest. As

the goal of public welfare becomes the main one, in the case of public
administration, financial gain or profit-making does not get special importance. The
question of making a profit does not arise in the case of police, defense, or
government service activities.

On the other hand, the competence and efficiency of the administration of a

private organization are tested on how the administration can raise the financial
goals of the organization.

Similarities: (Public and Private administration)

While there are some fundamental differences between public and private
administrations, there is no denying that there are similarities between the public and
private administration.

1. Similarity in Functions

Both the administrations are governed by a number of general principles.

Henry Fayol speaks of 14 principles, Luther Gulick calls this general principle as
POSDCORB (Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordination, Reporting, and
Budgeting).

2. Training

Another similarity between the two administrations is that they provide

appropriate training to employees in need of special administrative experience and
skills.
3. Service-Oriented

The activities of some private administrations like public administration can

touch public life in terms of service. Privately owned transport systems, power
supply, etc. are as important as public administration nowadays.

4. As a Group Efforts

In both the public and private spheres, the administration is a kind of group
effort, where different levels of employees execute a particular objective through
mutual interaction or means.

5. Facing Problems

Both public and private administrations may face a number of specific

problems such as decision-making problems, problems in managing director-
management relationships, problems in the production or supply of consumer goods.
However, the form and character of the problem may vary depending on the field
and the environment.

Conclusion

From the light of the discussion on differences between public and private
administration, it can be concluded that there are a lot of fundamental differences
between public and private administration, but it is true that there are some
similarities also. 
Many emphasize the differences between public and private administrations, while
others emphasize the similarities between the two. The Public Private Partnership
(PPP) is very important today. Many things in public administration today can be
achieved with the help of private administration. That’s why Recently, the line
between private and public concepts has not been clear.

Judging by the necessity of the administrative system as a whole, it can be

said that it is not possible to have any real purpose in verifying the differences
between the two or the errors of both. What is needed is a joint effort of both private
and public administration. 

The goals and objectives of the government administration cannot be

achieved without the help of non-governmental organizations or private
administration. It is possible to build a healthy and strong administrative system
through the skills, cooperation and coordination of both and this environment is
beneficial for both government and non-government organizations.