The Theory & Practice of Government Powers Module 3.8: The Public Policy Cycle

Rational Decision-Making: The Public Policy Cycle A cyclical problem-solving approach to decision-making Stages in the cycle: –Agenda building –Formulation –Adoption –Implementation –Evaluation

Agenda Building: “What’s the Problem?” Identify a public issue –Typically involves media, interest group activity, citizen initiatives, public opinion Clarify the Issue Frame the issue as a problem to be addressed Set the Agenda –Recognize and Commit to address the problem –Decide what issues will be resolved and what matters will be addressed

Formulation: “How do we fix the problem?” Develop policy proposals to address the problems on the agenda Explore various alternatives to address the problem –May include multiple proposals, some of which are mutually exclusive Anticipate evaluation, recognize potential positive and negative consequences of implementing the proposal

Adoption: “How we’ll fix the problem.” Select a proposal from those formulated as the proposal which will be carried out Anticipate and address potential critiques Generate political support for the adopted proposal Decide a method of implementation

Implementation: “Make it so.” Organize departments, agencies, other resources in accordance with adopted policy Generate revenue to support policy Enforce or execute the adopted policy; apply policy to policy targets Provide payments or services to policy targets

Evaluation: “Did it work? Was it a good idea?” Report outputs of programs Evaluate impact on policy “targets” and “non-targets” alike Identify consequences Propose changes or reforms to policy –Expectations Expected Unexpected –Intent Intended Unintended –Quality Desirable Undesirable –Conflicts With other policies or policy objectives With fundamental principles –Options Continue policy unchanged Revise implementation strategy Suspend policy and reformulate –Results of evaluation form the basis for new Agenda Building