Public Policy Formulation - Process and Tools
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Transcript of Public Policy Formulation - Process and Tools
SUPREME MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
CHARLES COTTER27 NOVEMBER 2012
RANDBURG TOWERS
PRESENTATION OVERVIEWIntroduction
Key points
Summary
Questions
INTRODUCTORY LEARNING ACTIVITY
Complete the activity on page 2
Elaborate on your choice of word association
DEFINING THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
Policy:
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome/s.
A purposive course of action based on societal values, followed in dealing with a matter or concern, and predicting the outcome that would result from the achievement of the purpose
Public policy:
Policy serving as the enabling and guiding framework for government in all sectors and at all levels.
PUBLIC POLICYPublic policy is all about:
The intentions of the legislative authority towards society
The direction in which the legislator wants to steer society
The utilization of national resources
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICIES
Authoritative
Enforceable
Flexible and adaptable
Feasible
Clear
Transparent
Consultative
LEARNING ACTIVITY 1Complete the activity on pages 8-9
Provide feedback
PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION PROCESS
PHASE 1: INITIATION
Step 1: Agenda-setting/issue (problem) identification Step 2: Policy instruments Step 3: Policy analysis Step 4: Stakeholder engagement, consultation and co-ordination
PHASE 2: GENERATION
Step 5: Policy formulation, decision-making and policy drafting
PHASE 3: IMPLEMENTATION
Step 6: Policy implementation
PHASE 4: EVALUATION
Step 7: Policy monitoring and evaluation
LEARNING ACTIVITY 2Complete the activity on pages 11-12
Provide feedback
STEP 1: AGENDA-SETTING/PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Process of identifying policy issues/problems, which require the attention of a legislator
Process wherein the members of society identify their needs, desires and demands and wherein a legislator decides to place these issues on the agenda for deliberation
The setting of the policy agenda allows a legislator to become sensitized to some of the critical policy requirements that affect society.
Issue identification can be conducted by forecasting the future with the use of extrapolative techniques such as the Delphi technique, brainstorming and scenario sketching
The origin/source of the various organizational policy-related issues
Prioritization of issues
STEP 2: POLICY INSTRUMENTS/SOURCES
Legislation and government policy and prioritiesTaxation (the budget)Persuasion (and public pressure) Inspection and auditsMinutes of meetingsLegislative recordsProvision of servicesNewsletter, media briefings and community
meetings
STEP 3: POLICY ANALYSISStep-by-step way of unpacking and understanding
policy choices and comparing possible outcomes
Policy analysis needs to explore as rationally and honestly as possible the implications and possible outcomes of adopting policy
The importance and value of continual policy analysis
Policy analysis is an attempt to determine the costs and benefits of various alternatives or to evaluate the validity of existing policies e.g. Force field analysis
Policy analysis is an attempt to bring about and transform information pertinent to particular policies to resolve problems pertaining to those policies
THE VALUE AND BENEFITS OF POLICY ANALYSIS
To determine whether they are in effect contributing towards the general well-being of society and/or serving the best interests of organizational stakeholders
The making of rational choices in policy
Assists the stakeholders in policy to comprehend the importance of values, particular interests and business considerations
Provides tangible facts
Compares not only objectives or resources, but also alternative programmes, it makes errors easy to identify by working with historical contexts and bears in mind that senior managers must implement policies and that citizens are involved
STEP 3: POLICY ANALYSIS continued…
The role of the policy analyst:
Advisor
Advocate
Pre-requisites for policy analysis:
Refer to pages 18-20
6-STEP POLICY ANALYSIS PROCESSIdentify the underlying values and aspirations
Understand the problem in its context
Identify the alternative courses of actions
Decide which dimensions of the problem are most important
Predict the likely outcomes of different courses of action
Measure the chosen courses of action against important values and aspirations
STEP 4: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, CONSULTATION AND CO-ORDINATION
Objective: To ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness and upholding the right to access to any information held by the state
Constant interaction with society
Extensive consultation and co-ordination between the various stakeholders
Interest groups e.g. civic society; associations and lobbyists
Public participation
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
Step 1: Identify stakeholders
Step 2: Prioritize stakeholders
Step 3: Get to know and understand stakeholders
Step 4: Stakeholder relationship management
LEARNING ACTIVITY 3Complete the activity on pages 25-26
Provide feedback
STEP 5: POLICY FORMULATION AND ADOPTION
Factors to consider
Policy recommendations are normally drafted by senior managers and then referred to higher management authority for deliberation, approval and adoption
It remains the responsibility of the highest decision-making authority (executive powers) to approve or reject a particular policy recommendation
The matter could be referred back to management for further investigation
A policy-maker or decision maker has to be sure of the ability of officials to actually execute a policy - administrative, operational and managerial capacity to implement the decision
POLICY CONTENT/TEMPLATEPurpose statement
Applicability and scope
Background/Contextualization
Definitions
An effective date
A responsibilities section – e.g. oversight and governance structures
Policy statements - rules - indicating the specific regulations, requirements, or modifications to organizational behavior that the policy is creating
LEARNING ACTIVITY 4Complete the activity on page 30
Provide feedback