ABSTRACT
It is not uncommon for consultants to differentiate between public and business organizations, often lamenting the difficulties these differences create in choosing the “right” intervention. This chapter argues that, while differences certainly do exist between these two sectors, differences within each sector can be equally as great or greater. Therefore, using a public/business dichotomy does not help particularly in assessing intervention practices. The chapter discusses eight generic features that are relevant in adapting consultation to the specifics of a particular organization, without regard to its public or private sector affiliation, and concludes by highlighting a few characteristics which seem to be present more frequently in public organizations than in private organizations.
