-The first step of the policy-making process involves recognizing that a certain issue is a problem that requires further attention from the government
-It is important to the policymaking process because it is the trigger for the initiation of the entire process. There is no need for policy development in the absence of a problem. It also helps set the government agenda by helping them know what they are setting out to achieve. The main dilemma in this step is that problems that require government attention are often numerous and the resources available are not sufficient to solve all of them. Thus, the government has to prioritize the problems which can be a challenging task
-This step involves researching and analysing the policy problem
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Without this step, policymakers would be making decisions about problems they know little about, resulting in ineffective policies. It can be challenging for policymakers to identify reliable sources of information to facilitate policy analysis. Relying on inaccurate information to develop policies is just as damaging to the policymaking process as failing to conduct policy analysis .
-This step involves identifying which instruments of government are vital in the implementation of the policy. Examples of such instruments include legislation and programs .
-Policy instrument development is a vital part of the policy-making process because without it problems would remain unsolved even if there are appropriate policy solutions for that problem in place. The main problem in this step is the difficulty in identifying the appropriate instrument for implementing the policy. In fact, many new policies can be implemented through the use of existing legislation and programs, but policymakers often fail to identify them due to insufficient consultation and poor policy analysis .
-This component of the policy cycle is part of the entire policy-making process. It involves seeking external, independent expertise to inform the policy development
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-This coordination is an important part of the policy-making process because it ensures that policy initiatives have the support of all the relevant sections of government. Government departments and agencies sometimes have divergent organizational structures that make it difficult for them to coordinate their operations. This disparity can hinder multi-agency cooperation in the implementation of policies (Everett 2003).
-This step involves arriving at the appropriate decision regarding the policy initiative that will be used to solve the problem .
-It is crucial to the policy-making process because it helps the government allocate and focus resources on the implementation of the policy. The main problem that policymakers may face in this step is difficulty in decision-making. Government agencies are usually bureaucracies with numerous protocols and complex hierarchies that hinder easy decision-making. As a result, arriving at the desired decision can often turn out to be a protracted process for
Public policies are developed in response to the existence of a perceived problem or an opportunity. The analysis delves into a public issue or problem and assesses a set of proposed government action for addressing the issue. The job of the analyst is to describe the background and status of an issue and then, using research and analysis, determine a proper government action to resolve the issue. By comparing options and weighing their expected benefits, the analyst should conclude with a recommended course of action or inaction to addressing the issue.
This book also elaborates on the study of rulemaking by giving examples through cases, studies, loads of government documentation and interviews with policy makers. Following the information and chapters is really easy. The book is illustrated with clear tables, charts, and figures. Each chapter is clearly defined and tables/figures are clearly marked after the table of contents.
Modern Bureaucracy in the United States serves to administer, gather information, conduct investigations, regulate, and license. Once set up, a bureaucracy is inherently conservative. The reason the bureaucracy was initiated may not continue to exist as a need in the future. The need or reason may change with a change in the times and the culture needs. A bureaucracy tends to make decisions that protect it and further it’s own existence, possibly apart from the wishes of the populace. It may not consistently reflect what might be optimal in terms of the needs and wants of the people. Local governments employ most of the United States civil servants. The 14 cabinet departments in the U.S. are run day-to-day by career civil servants, which have a great deal of discretionary authority.
John Kingdon's policy stream model revolves around a particular policy or agenda. The policy once supported by a policy community becomes a public policy. At a macro level, the basis of Kingdon’s policy model is the description of what is happening in actual current policy development. This model has three separate streams, which represent a window into the politics of modelling policy at macro stages. The model holds that three separate streams - problem, policy, and political streams which all are interlinked, will come together at a decisive moment and then transform into a workable policy. ...
This step includes gathering facts before trying to figure out the solution to the issues or possible future issues. This is a very important step when making important business decision...
Before a policy can be thought upon, proper analysis of the current scenario needs to be done. For
Charles Lindblom in the Science of Muddling Though identified two methodology in formulating policy - the Rational Comprehensive (Root) and Successive Limited Comparisons (Branch). There are numerous differences between the root and branch decision-making methods for policymaking; root (rational) decision-making starts from basic issues on every occasion and builds from the ground up, whereas branch (successive limited comparison) begins with the current situation and changes incrementally. The linear or rational model presents policy-making as a problem solving process which is sensible, objective and analytical. In the model, decisions are made in an orderly manner starting with the identification of a problem or issue then ending with a set of activities to solve or deal with it. Charles Lindblom is critical of the Rational Comprehensive Method (Root) of policy process as simplistic and difficult to apply when dealing with complex issues (Lindblom, 1959, p. 79). He advocates that there is logic of “muddling through” the process rather than identifying all the issues, collecting al...
Policy in my perspective illustrates as a decision making, planning and or action taken to achieve a certain specific goal within our society. According to Longest B. (2010), his definition stated in his text book states that a policy is defined as ” authoritative decisions made in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches of government that are intended to direct or influence the actions, behaviors, or decisions of others.” In developing a policy, certain steps need to be taken in act to implement the policy. The crucial steps in implementing a policy are: recognizing the problem, agenda setting, formulating the policy, and finally implementing the policy (N.A., 2015).
The IAD Framework offers researchers a way to understand the policy process by outlining a detailed and systematic approach for analyzing institutions that govern action and outcomes within the collective action arrangements (Ostrom, 2007). Institutions are defined within the IAD Framework as a set of prescriptions and constraints that humans use to organize all forms of perpetual and structured interactions (Ostrom, 2009). These policies can incorporate norms, rules, and shared strategies (Ostrom 1990). Foundations are further outlined as being formal or casual; the previous described as principles-in-structure and the recent as guidelines-being used.
Coalitions cultivate out of partnerships and involve extra formal framework, included written memorandum of communication convention, by-laws, a devote management group and common tools, in addition to a long-term commitment to the coalition’s cause. A relevant example is the Coalition for Health Communication “ put in the ground-organizational duty or task force whose task is to make stronger the identity and progress the field of health communication.” The coalition, which includes several groups, associations has a common Web site, a management group and general activities and
Formulation is the second stage after identifying the problem and setting the agenda. This stage involves the proposal of solutions to the issue. The policy makers propose several courses of actions and solutions to addressing the issue. Then come up with one effective solution that will solve most of the issues (Boundless, 2013).
Therefore, while the concept of stakeholders is more enshrined in individuals and institutions that take part in policy formulation and identification of alternatives, policy networks is more about the systems put in place that mediate in the public policy making process and identification of alternatives to existing policies. Policy networks include special interest groups as well as citizen groups. In its inherent sense, special interest groups are communities operating within the context of a larger organization of persons and industries among others with the aim of advocating for a specific interest. Like special interest groups, citizen groups also seek to achieve a specific interest though this is always perceived to be of public good,
Policies taken by the respective Governments of each and every country in the world are an important aspect of our life whether we choose it or not. Policies are normally adopted to solve major problems faced by the public. It is the duty of the State to see to it that the problems are solved keeping the majority and at the same time ensuring proper justice is done and ethically on the right side of it. So, it is important that there be a public policy and it matters that they need to cater to the majority and aid them by providing solutions to their problems and ensure a smooth functioning of the state. And as a citizen of the nation, public policy matters to me because it provides me a platform to assess the decisions taken by the state on behalf of the nation and with proper knowledge people like us can aid in the betterment of the society by providing inputs or question the policy if it seems improbable.
Public policy can be defined as “What ever governments choose to do or not do” (Dye, 2008, p 2). In the context of this essay, public policies are a set of actors by the government in order to reach out to the masses. The ministries and departments are mandated to deliver specific mandates in the form of public goods and services.
The government is responsible for building a foundation now to prepare for the future. These decisions for the future are some of the most difficult ones to make.