ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines three alternative scenarios and some major differentiating consequences of the three scenarios. It illustrates some useful features of appropriately redesigned research and application in the public sector. The chapter focuses on what may be labeled the operational aspects of the public sector—on "administration," as contrasted with "politics" or "governance" which, roughly, encompass the legislative as well as the executive institutions and activities. The Politics/Administration dichotomy has long been with us, and its procrustean forms have always been substantially insufficient, to judge by the early and persisting scholarly opinion that achieves near-unanimity. For organization development (OD) and quality of work life (QWL) applications alike, designers seem about equally able to tailor applications to public as well as business sectors, in sharp opposition to the common opinion which sees public-sector applications at a great disadvantage. Government must take whatever often-unforgiving life processes have left as the "losers" in the rush to define "winners".
