Policy Cycle Flashcards
Emergence of policy cycle
Howard Lasswell in 1950s
Book- the decision process: 7 categories of functional analysis
Definition of a policy cycle
Framework that considers the emergence of problems the formulation of proposals to deal with them and the endorsement and introduction of these as the government stated policy Dye 1998
6 stages
Agenda setting
Policy formulation
Decision making
Implementation
Evaluation
Termination renewal or modification
How do items get on agenda
Outside initiation -Pressure from social actors
Inside initiation- actors from inside political and policy making cycles
Influential individuals institutions and economic conditions popular ideologies
Termination renewal modification
End policy due to ineffectiveness opposition or non fulfilment of objectives
Ie water charges
Continue based of performance and relevance to needs - housing for all
Update to address inadequacies USC
Policy formulation
Definition of objectives
Inputs from policy makers stakeholders and experts
Govt influence
Cost benefit analysis
Final decision with cabinet
Decision making
Consider allocation of powers at different levels national EU
Dependent on economic resources, political support, lobbying, institutional constraints
Final decision by EU commissioner, ministers, state agency, local authorities or CEO
Implementation
Policy Tools -
Regulatory - Acts, SI
Financial - taxes subsidies supports
Informational - public info campaigns
Effective implementation
Clear communication
Piloting and phased rollouts
Challenges to implementation
Insufficient funding, personnel or infrastructure
Overlapping or conflicts between agencies and levels of government
Resistance to change from stakeholders
Monitoring deficiencies
Evaluation
Clarify what needs evaluation
Collect and analyse data
Analysis and interpret info
Make recommendations for future action
Indicators to determine outcomes of last stage of policy cycle
Achievement of aims
Relevance
Cost effectiveness
Public and political support
Unintended consequences
Benefits of policy cycle framework
Provides structured approach to public policy analysis/ integrated theory analysis
Applicable across wide sectors and governance systems
Defines processes and steps for decision makers to adhere to
Enhances flexibility of process
Enhance public participation
Supports evaluation and learning
Critique of policy cycle framework
Oversimplified complex processes
Assumes orderly sequence
Based on top down perspective
Limited focus on power and politics
Doesn’t adequately incorporate where decisions are made
