Frequently, there is talk of “redesigning” government and making it operate more like private business.

This raises the question of whether there is a fundamental difference between the public and private sectors, and whether this may have an impact upon how systems should be designed differently, depending upon whether they are intended for a government or a private sector organization.

a. Survey system designers in both the private and public sectors. Ask them what their top issues and problems are in terms of designing human interfaces.

b. What differences did you find?

c. What similarities?

d. Do you think there is enough commonality such that the same set of guidelines can apply to both public- and private-sector agencies? Why or why not?

e. Given a choice and assuming that salary and benefits were the same, would you rather be a systems designer in a public agency? A private agency? Why or why not?