Introduction to Public Policy

(GS 228 – Public Policy

Workshop)
Capstone Course
PA/Governance and Policy
 Public administration and Governance (PA/G) refers to government in
action driven or compelled by social welfare objectives embodied in
PUBLIC Policies

 Public Policy as the central field/area in the STUDY (policy science)

and PRACTICE (advocacy, formulation, formalization,
enactment/legislation, implementation and review) of
PA/Governance

 Other PA/G fields/areas – fiscal administration, local governance,

organizational studies, etc – are also embodied in and are governed by
public policies
Defining PUBLIC Policy..
 whatever government chooses to do or not to do (Dye, 1972)

 a purposive course of action followed by an actor or set of actors in dealing

with a problem or matter of concern; a purposive or goal-oriented than
random or chance behavior; consists of courses of action than separate,
discrete decisions; what government actually do, not what they intend to do
or say are going to do; based on law and is authoritative (Anderson, 1975)

 broken down into categories of: 1) policy demands; 2) policy decisions; 3)

policy statements; 4) policy outputs and, 5) policy outcomes (Anderson,
1975)
 
 long series of more or less related choices (including decisions not to act)
made by governmental bodies and officials dealing with many different
issue areas such as defense (Dunn, 1981)

 major guidelines for action directed at future, decided mainly by

A policy is PUBLIC if…

 it is authoritatively determined, implemented and enforced by government

institutions (Dye, 1971)

 it is legitimate, universal and coercive in effect (Dye, 1971)

 it commands obedience as well as agreement (Nicolaidis, 1963)

 it has the key role of government and also the participation of other
institutions/sectors (Hogwood and Gunn, 1984)

 it is for the achievement of societal improvement, or ideally for the common good
of the public (Mendoza, 1991)
The Public Policy Process
 a course of transformation which turn political inputs into political
outputs (Brewer 1974); translates vague and often abstract societal
commitments into specific commitments or more specific courses of
action (Etzioni, 1976);
 policy process decides major guidelines for action directed at the
future, mainly by government (Dror, 1961)
 The operative principle behind the notion of the policy process is the
logic of applied problem solving (Howlett and Ramesh 1995). Usually, the
policy process involves stages that correspond with the various phases of
applied problem solving.
Phases of Applied Problem Solving Stages in Policy Cycle
1. Problem Recognition 1. Agenda Setting
2. Proposal Solution 2. Policy Formulation
3. Choice of Solution 3. Decision-Making
4. Putting Solutions into Effect 4. Policy Implementation
5. Monitoring Results 5. Policy Evaluation
 Policy Process Frameworks
(and your Policy Paper)
Dunn (1981) Vig and Kraft (1984) Mendoza (1993) Your POLICY PAPER
The P-A-S Sequence

Chapter 1 – INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Objectives of the Study
Relevance of the Study
Scope and Limitations
Definition of Terms

Policy Agenda Setting Seeking information to define and Chapter 2 - The POLICY
restructure the societal Problems
Problems Policy Formulation Chapter 3 - Policy ISSUES and PROBLEMS

Alternatives Policy Adoption Development Alternatives to Chapter 4 – POLICY OPTIONS

solve the problems Presentation of Options and Assessment of
Options based on a defined Criteria

Outcomes Policy Reaching and adopting an Chapter 5 – POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

Implementation agreement on which alternative and CONCLUSIONS
Solution can best address the Policy recommendation shall be the most
issues and problems doable policy option from Chapter 4

Implementing the Solution

Performance Policy Evaluation Evaluating the Outcomes (P)
Seeking information to define and
restructure the societal (P)roblem
References/Bibliography
Annexes
About the Author(s)
 Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V
INTRODUCTION The POLICY POLICY ISSUES POLICY OPTIONS RECOM and
CONCLUSION
Title Page Short write up
 Ch
Acceptance Sheet
on the Policy Proposed solutions to
Table of Contents
(date enacted, all issues raised
A. Background authors, Discuss how sslected
B. Objectives coverage, etc.) Policy Option 1 option will solve all
Enumerate issues
- General - Discussion on how to issues compared to
(issue #1, issue#2,
- Specific solve issue#1, issue#2, other option
Main features of etc)
C. Relevance Policy Option 2
D. Definition of policy, cite - Discussion on how to Attach as Annex the
specific Cite specific
Terms solve issue#1, issue#2 recommended option
provisions provisions relevant to
E. Scope and the issues being proposed policy
Limitations particularly Discuss which option (draft ordinance,
those relevant raised
- Locale is most doable; use order, etc)
- Coverage to the policy criteria – legal basis,
- Methodology issues you will timeliness, resources, Conclude with
raise Provide relevant data
etc. Discuss criteria in discussion on how
(tables, graphs)
detail. recommended option
gathered from
research methods will meet objectives
employed (survey,
Bibliography
interviews, etc.) for Annexes
each issue presented About the authors

- Observe proper citations (footnotes, endnotes, etc.) for items lifted from books, other studies, website
- Ensure there is coherence of arguments throughout these chapters (i.e. consistency, logical sequence, etc)
- Have the paper edited/proofread for typographical and grammatical errors.
- Follow mandated inclusions (acceptance sheet, table of contents, bibliography, annexes, etc)
 Indicative Schedule of Meetings and
Milestones*
18 Aug - Briefing on course requirements
25 Aug – Meeting to Finalize of Topics and Outline
01 Sep – Submission of 1st Draft and Advising Session
08 Sep – Submission of 2nd Draft and Advising Session
15 Sep – Submission of 2nd polished draft
22 Sep – Panel Presentation
29 Sep – Submission of 3rd Draft and Advising
28 Sep – Submission of Final Draft
5 Oct – Final Advising Session
(Review and Go-Signal for Bookbinding)
12 Oct – Submission of bound copies

* Schedule subject to change