Policy making typically follows a dynamic pattern involving several core stages, which do not have to be followed in a linear pattern.
Understanding the Policy Making Pattern
The pattern of policy making can be understood through a series of interconnected steps. While often presented sequentially, the reality is that these stages can overlap, repeat, or occur out of order. The reference highlights five main steps in this process:
- Agenda Setting/Identifying the Issue: Recognizing a problem or issue that requires government attention and action.
- Policy Formation: Developing potential solutions or courses of action to address the identified issue. This involves research, analysis, and drafting policy proposals.
- Decision Making: Choosing among the proposed policies. This often involves legislative processes, executive decisions, or public votes.
- Policy Implementation: Putting the chosen policy into effect. This involves setting up agencies, allocating resources, and developing regulations.
- Evaluation: Assessing the effectiveness and impact of the implemented policy. This step helps determine if the policy is achieving its goals and whether adjustments or new policies are needed.
As the reference explicitly states, these steps do not have to be followed in a linear pattern. This means the process can be cyclical or iterative. For instance, evaluation might reveal new issues (feeding back into agenda setting), or implementation challenges might require revisiting policy formation or decision making.
The Non-Linear Flow
Instead of a simple A → B → C pattern, policy making often looks more like a web or a cycle:
- Evaluation findings might push an issue back onto the agenda.
- Implementation difficulties can lead to policy adjustments (back to formation or decision).
- External events can force rapid decision-making before full formation is complete.
This flexible pattern allows policy makers to adapt to changing circumstances and learn from experience.
Practical Insights
Understanding this pattern is crucial for anyone involved in or affected by policy. For example:
- Advocacy groups can target different stages (e.g., focusing on agenda setting to highlight an issue or evaluation to demonstrate a policy's failure).
- Government agencies must be prepared for feedback loops from implementation and evaluation back into earlier stages.
- Citizens can engage with the process at various points, not just during initial formation.
The pattern of policy making is thus a complex, often iterative journey through issue identification, solution development, choice, action, and review.
| Stage | Key Activity |
|---|---|
| Agenda Setting/Identifying Issue | Recognizing problems, bringing them to attention |
| Policy Formation | Developing solutions, drafting proposals |
| Decision Making | Choosing a policy course |
| Policy Implementation | Putting the policy into practice |
| Evaluation | Assessing policy impact and effectiveness |
This dynamic pattern reflects the complex nature of addressing societal challenges through public policy.
