The Policy Process Flashcards
What are the elements of the traditional policy cycle
Problem definition Identify alternative solutions Select policy options Implementation Evaluation
Implementation is challenging and increasingly we need to think about evaluation so we can consider improvement
What is the rational policy process
Decision making is something that is regarded as the ideal type
Decision making is rational
Normative approach
Aims to maximise social gain
Instrumentalist- cost effectiveness- what is worthwhile?
What is the conventional view of the policy process
Vote ministers
Degree of trust
Entrust MPs to develop policies in our interest
What are the elements of rational decision making
Identifying a problem
Goals values and objectives can be ranked according to importance
Various alternatives examined
Consequences of each option are investigated
Various options are compared
Chose the option that maximises goals and objectives
What is some of the critique of the rational policy process
Maximising goals and objectives requires a sense of what one scale
Different stakeholders might have brought different perspectives
Cost benefit analysis is difficult to analyse in fiscal terms
Goals and values are contradictory
Policy decision making needs to be quick
What are the 3 pillars of rational policy making
A model of reasoning
Model of society
Model of policy making
What is the policy paradox
Winners lose and loser win - unintentional consequences
Which comes first the problem or the solution
Backwards engineered
Incremental policy making
Regarded as an alternative approach
Muddle through the process
Make decisions in small increments rather than big leaps
Can take 20 yrs to get into practice
What is the networkisation of society
Moving towards a more inclusive approach
Complicated the policy process
Expectations that the decisions will involve all views of relevant stakeholders
What is ansell and gashs definiton of collaborative governance
A governing arrangement where one or more public agencies directly engage non state stakeholders in a collective decision making process that is formal, consensus orientated and deliberative and that aims to make or implement public policy
What are the rewards of collaborative governance
Avoids high costs of adversarial decision making
Restores rationality
Expands democratic participation
Note can soon become tokenistic
Why is participation becoming more popular
Response to the failures of downstream implementation
Need to work to make CG effective
Progressive enabling mechanism drawing on the public and policy makers together
Process of deliberation is key
What is an advocacy coalition framework
Contains multiple actors Working on subsystem Networks emerge around the interest How do actors come together Common purpose in mind Hs2 for and against
What are mega projects
Large scale, complex ventures that typically cost a billion dollars or more, take years to develop and build, involve multiple stakeholders, transformational and Impact millions of lives
CG is essential for mega projects
What were some of the problems with HS2
A solution without a problem?
Results of first consultation revealed 90% of people were against HS2
Questions didn’t allow a but or to provide dialogue
Consultation rife with controversy shared belief that crucial voices had been ignored
Much information wasn’t in plain English
