Azam naem final Policy formulation 21 jan25.pptx
- 1. Policy Formulation Process Actors, Factors and Stakeholders Professor Dr AQM Shafiul Azam Director General (A.D) Directorate of Secondary & Higher Education Bangladesh 21 January 2025 NAEM
- 2. Outline Understanding policies Importance of policies Actors and Factors influencing policies Stakeholder Engagement
- 3. Understanding Policy • Challenge starts from defining policies! • Policies are sometimes likened to “elephants” “Defining policy is rather like the elephant – you know it when you see it but you cannot easily define it” (Cunningham, 1963) • Overlapping terms used interchangeably in different contexts! • Policy, planning, strategy, management, politics Policy process is a crucial element in Educational Planning
- 4. What is A Policy? A definite course or method of action selected (by government, institution, group or individual) from among alternatives and in the light of given conditions to guide and, usually, to determine present and future decisions. • Policy is a process as well as a product. It is used to refer to a process of decision making and also the product of that process. • Policy as an output; Here policy is seen as what government actually delivers e.g. Delivery of goods and services or enforcement. e.g. Education, Health, Agriculture etc.
- 5. Defining Policy? Policy is a general guideline for decision making. According to Koontz and Weihrich, “Policies are general statements of understandings which guides or channelize thinking in decision making of subordinates. Policy is only a framework within which decisions must be made. “ An explicit or implicit single decision or group of decisions which may set out directives for guiding future decisions, initiate or retard action, or guide implementation of Previous decisions” (Haddad & Demsky,1995)
- 6. Nature of Policy 1. Relationship to organization’s objectives: Policies are based on the objectives and they contribute towards the attainment of objectives. 2. Clarity of policy: Policies are clear, definite and explicit leaving no room for interpretation. 3. Guideline towards decision making: Prescribes the criteria for current and future actions. 4.Policies are written: Policies are stared with precise covering of all anticipated conditions. 5.Consistency: Provides steadiness in various operations of an organization. 6. Balance of policy: Should maintain balance between stability and flexibility
- 7. Policy from a Holistic View Policy Implementation Structure Guideline Motivation for Decision Making •translates vision to action • a functional framework for staff actions •statement of intentions to guide decision-making • regulates how citizens live in a community
- 8. Why are policies important? Policies are integral to the success of any organization Provide guidelines that help employees understand what is expected of them and how they should conduct themselves in different situations. Policies are frameworks Guide decision-making processes, Establish rules and procedures, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. Provide a structure that all employees can follow, promoting consistency and clarity in the workplace. Policies help: to establish a culture of compliance, ensuring that all employees are aware of their responsibilities and obligations to mitigate risk by providing a clear set of guidelines for employees to follow, reducing the likelihood of errors or misconduct. to promote fairness and consistency by ensuring that all employees are held to the same standards and expectations.
- 9. Why are policies important? Policies provide a clear and concise framework for employees to follow, ensuring that everyone agrees and is working towards the same goals. •Imagine a workplace without policies. Chaos would reign, and employees would be left to make decisions on their own, with no guidance or direction. This lack of structure would lead to confusion, mistakes, and a lack of accountability. Policies are important for: ESTABLISHING CONSISTENCY AND CLARITY ENHANCING DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROMOTING A POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
- 10. Every policy has three key elements • a problem definition, • goals to be achieved, • and the policy instruments to address the problem and achieve the goals. DEFINING POLICY TYPES APPLICATIONS IMPLEMENTING POLICY COMMUNICATION EVALUATION POLICY DECISIONS REOMMENDATIONS DEBATE DEVELOPING POLICY PROCESS FACT- BASED HOW TO’S OF POLICY MAKING
- 11. Policy Framework Context Content Process Actors Policy triangle Walt & Gilson, 1994
- 12. Theoretical Perspective of a Policy Cycle The theoretical perspective of a policy cycle provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated. Three Elements of Policy System : Thomas R.Dye-1978 Understanding Public Policy by Thomas R. Dye. 14th Edition.
- 13. The policy cycle as policy process Australian Policy Cycle, Bridgman and Davis, 1998 Stages of the policy cycle., Lasswell (1956)
- 14. “Policy Making” • The term 'policy making' like 'policy' implies competing conceptions and assumptions. • A study of the theoretical and empirical work of social scientists reveals the two essential dimensions of policy making: – who does it (the actors) and – how (the process).
- 15. Policy Cycle begins…. Activities Problem identification and issue recognition Understand the challenge or problem • What precisely is the problem? • What evidence is there? • Who has an interest in the issue? • What do we want to achieve? Agenda Setting • The policy cycle is typically characterized by several key steps or stages that guide the policy-making process. • Each of these stages is crucial in ensuring that policies are well-designed, effectively implemented, and continuously improved to meet the evolving needs of society. Stages of a Policy Cycle
- 16. Who are Involved In The Policy Cycle? The policy cycle links a variety of key players in the policy process through their involvement with the different stages. Individuals, institutions and agencies involved in the policy process are called actors. Government is often thought of to be the only entity involved in policy making. Government does have the ultimate decision-making and funding power, but there are many other actors that contribute to public policy, often in a network on which government relies for the delivery of complex policy goals.
- 17. Who Makes Public Policies? • Policy comes from those who have legitimate authority to impose normative guidelines for action. • It is made by: – elected officials acting in concert with advisors from the higher levels of the administration – non-elected officials then are required to implement the policy through programs
- 18. The Actors Government: Parliament: Public Servants: Political Parties: Public: Media: Interest Groups: Legal system:
- 19. Based on what factors are policies formulated Public policy is a result of complex interactions among various stakeholders, each pushing for outcomes that align with their interests and objectives. The incremental nature of policy changes often results from these competing influences. • Public policy is influenced by a variety of factors, including public opinion, economic conditions, new scientific findings, technological change, interest groups, NGOs, business lobbying, and political activity.
- 20. Factors influencing Policy formulation • Public opinion significantly impacts public policy, particularly in areas like environmental concerns, energy prices, and climate change. This influence is exerted through electoral politics, citizen actions, and government decision-making. Public Opinion: • Economic factors play a crucial role in shaping policy. For instance, the Great Recession highlighted the need for public investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy to create jobs. Economic Conditions: • Technological advancements directly and indirectly affect public policy. Innovations that lower costs and improve usability can increase public support for policies promoting renewable energy and environmental conservation. Technological Change: • These include business and trade associations, professional organizations, labor unions, environmental advocacy organizations, and citizen groups. They lobby for policies benefiting their members and missions. Interest Groups: • Business associations like the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers influence public policy through collective efforts. They advocate for policies that favor business interests. Business Associations: • NGOs, which are not affiliated with the government, also try to influence public policy and business behavior. They play a significant role in supporting sustainable business activities and filling gaps left by government and private sector initiatives. Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs):
- 21. Policy Formulation System: The policy formulation system is the process through which policies are developed and implemented within an organization. It involves identifying issues, conducting research, consulting stakeholders, drafting policy proposals, and obtaining approval.
- 22. Steps of Policy Process Stage of the public policy process
- 23. Who are stakeholders? Stakeholders are individuals, groups, or organizations that have an interest in or are affected by the decisions, actions, or outcomes of a particular organization or system. "Any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the organization's objectives." Freeman (1984) Stakeholders in policy-making can be categorized as either internal (e.g., the government organizations responsible for policy implementation) and external (e.g., the industries, communities, or individuals to be affected by government actions or rules) A stakeholder is anyone who is involved in the welfare and success of a school and its students, including administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, community members, school board members, city councilors and state representatives
- 24. Types of stakeholders Internal stake holders are those who work within the school system on a daily basis and who largely control what goes on there.They include school External stake holders External stakeholders are those outside the day-to-day work of the schools who have a strong interest in school outcomes
- 25. Figure 2: The Process Flow of Stakeholder Engagement
- 26. Let’s Brainstor m! 1. Who are the stakeholders in education policy- making? 2. What is stakeholders engagement in policy- making? 3. Why is it important to involve stakeholders in the policy-making process?
- 27. What is Stakeholder Engagement? Effective stakeholder engagement: • Builds relationships or trust • Tailors communication to the needs and interests of individuals/groups • Uses a variety of methods to reach audiences • Surfaces and directly addresses incoming hopes, concerns, and commitments • Enables successful implementation of an organizational change or strategic plan
- 28. Stakeholder Engagement The International Association for Public Participation identified five levels of stakeholder engagement: 1. Informing Stakeholders: The level of engagement in this form is very low and suitable only to engage those stakeholders with low urgency, influence, importance, or interest. 2. Consulting Stakeholders: the main goal of this form of engagement is to elicit the views and interests, as well as the salient information that stakeholders have with regard to the policy concern 3. Involving Stakeholders: this is a more intensive engagement where stakeholders work together during the policy development process. 4. Collaboration with the Stakeholders: means stakeholders’advice and recommendations will be incorporated in the final decisions to a maximum extent. 5. Empowerment means that the final decision making is actually in the hands of the public.
- 29. Thanks What Governments Do, Why They Do It, and What Difference It Makes
Editor's Notes
- #10: A policy often comes in the form of general statements about priorities, written regulations or guidelines, procedures and/or standards to be achieved. At its simplest, policy refers to a distinct path of action which is suitable for the pursuit of desired goals within a particular context, directing the decision making of an organization or individual. Policy may be formal or informal: a formal policy might take the form of a planned policy document that has been discussed, written, reviewed, approved and published by a policymaking body. It could be a government’s national plan on Diabetes control, for instance. An informal policy might be an ad hoc, general, unwritten but widely recognized practice or understanding within an organization that a course of action is to be followed. Even though this policy may not be made explicit in writing it still exists in practice.
- #11: According to Walt and Gilson (1994), content is one of the four elements comprising the policy analysis triangle, the other being: context (why need this policy), content (what is the policy mainly about), process (how was the policy brought forward and implemented) and actors (who participates in and influences ...
- #12: The theoretical perspective of a policy cycle provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated. Policy cycle can be defined as a framework that considers the emergence of problems ,the formulation of proposals for dealing with these problems and the endorsement and introduction of these as the government's stated policy (Dye, 1998). The policy cycle, also known as the policy process, is typically divided into distinct stages that offer a systematic approach to policy development. 2nd figure explains Causes and Consequences of policy. This diagram (sometimes referred to as the "systems model") classifies societal conditions, political system characteristics, and public policies, and suggests possible Linkages between them.
- #13: The policy cycle, also known as the policy process, is typically divided into distinct stages that offer a systematic approach to policy development. The idea of modeling the policy process in terms of stages was first put forward by Lasswell. He did this in an attempt to establish a multidisciplinary and prescriptive policy science. Bridgman and Davis also suggest that a policy cycle can be used to understand and structure policy development, bringing a system and a rhythm to a world that might otherwise appear chaotic unordered. These stages often include agenda-setting, policy formulation, decision-making, policy implementation, and policy evaluation. Each stage is interrelated and cyclical, suggesting that policy-making is a continuous process rather than a linear one. By understanding these theoretical frameworks, policymakers and stakeholders can better navigate the intricacies of policy development and implementation.
- #14: Overlapping terms used interchangeably in different contexts! Policy, planning, strategy, management, politics
- #17: Policy may be formal or informal: a formal policy might take the form of a planned policy document that has been discussed, written, reviewed, approved and published by a policymaking body. It could be a government’s national plan on Diabetes control, for instance. An informal policy might be an ad hoc, general, unwritten but widely recognized practice or understanding within an organization that a course of action is to be followed. Even though this policy may not be made explicit in writing it still exists in practice.
- #22: The steps proposed by the ETF in the case of policy formulation, as a stage of the public policy process.