Definition of Administration: Administration means an organized method or system through
which an organization, institution, or state is managed and controlled.
According to Woodrow Wilson, “Administration is the detailed and systematic execution of public
law.”
According to E.N. Gladden, “Administration is to care for or look after the people.”
According to Negro, “Administration is an organization and the use of man and materials to
accomplish a common purpose of the government.”
Origin of the Word “Administration”
The word “Administration” comes from the Latin words “Ad” and “Ministrare.” Here, “Ad” means
“to” or “towards,” and “Ministrare” means “to serve” or “to manage.” So, Administration means to
serve, to look after, or to manage the affairs of others properly.
Types of Administration: There are two main types of administration —
Public Administration and
Private Administration.
Public Administration: Public administration is the management and organization of government
activities. Officials and teams run it to provide services and implement laws for the public. It focuses
on serving people, not making profits.
(Example: education, health, law, police, etc.)
Scholars’ Definitions of Public Administration
According to Woodrow Wilson, “Public administration is the detailed and systematic execution of
public law.”
According to E. N. Gladden, “Public administration is concerned with the management of government
affairs at all levels—national, provincial, and local.”
According to Herbert Simon, “Public administration includes the activities of the executive branches
of the national, state, and local governments.”
Senses of Public Administration
Narrow Sense: It means the executive branch only, which carries out laws, applies policies, and
manages daily government work.
Broad Sense: It includes executive, legislative, and judiciary, handling law-making, law
execution, and overall government supervision and coordination.
Private Administration: Private administration is the management and organization of private
businesses. Private individuals or teams run it to earn profit. It focuses on business work and is not
involved in politics.
(Example: banks, factories, companies, shops, etc.)
Scholars’ Definitions of Private Administration
According to L. D. White, “Private administration is a business operation concerned with profit-
making.”
According to Herbert Simon, “Private administration is mainly directed toward the management of
private organizations, which are responsible not to the public but to their owners or shareholders.”
Differences Between Public and Private Administration
1. Public administration is people-oriented, but private administration works only to maximize profit
and satisfy shareholders.
2. Public administration is politically guided, but private administration does not follow political
directives.
3. Public administration deals with public policies and government activities, while private
administration focuses on organizational management to increase profit.
4. Public administration is system-based, but private administration is not strictly system-based.
5. Public administration has a wide scope of work, but private administration has a limited scope.
6. Public administration’s jurisdiction is limited to the country, but private administration’s jurisdiction
is not limited by national boundaries.
7. Public administration follows a bureaucratic approach, while private administration follows an
egalitarian approach.
8. Public administration is directly and indirectly accountable to the people, but private administration
is accountable only to owners or shareholders.
9. Public administration spends public money (taxes) for public welfare, but private administration
spends money for profit, not for public welfare.
10. Public administration has relatively fewer rules, while private administration has specific and
enforceable rules.