Abstract

Scholars have devoted increasing attention to similarities and differences between public and private organizations. This paper critiques the comparative literature on these organizations in order to assess the usefulness of the public-private distinction in organization theory and concludes that further analysis of this distinction is valuable. Several avenues for improving research are suggested, including clarification of the categories through an extension of previous conceptions, and assessment of a proposed typology of subcategories across the public-private continuum.

Keywords

Organizational theoryOrganizational behaviorSociologyOrganization studiesPublic relationsManagementPositive economicsBusinessPolitical scienceEconomics

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Publication Info

Year
1988
Type
article
Volume
13
Issue
2
Pages
182-201
Citations
778
Access
Closed

Social Impact

Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions

Citation Metrics

778
OpenAlex
27
Influential
359
CrossRef

Cite This

James L. Perry, Hal G. Rainey (1988). The Public-Private Distinction in Organization Theory: A Critique and Research Strategy. Academy of Management Review , 13 (2) , 182-201. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1988.4306858

Identifiers

DOI
10.5465/amr.1988.4306858

Data Quality

Data completeness: 77%