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Understanding Policy Work
Full text link‘Policy’ has become one of the central ways in how we talk about government, presenting the process of government as a pattern of systematic action oriented to particular collective concerns. It is a central concept in a narrative of governing in authoritative and instrumental terms: Governments recognize problems and make decisions to bring public authority and resources to bear upon these problems, with ‘policy’ as the expression of these decisions. As we will see, this perspective embodies questions and puzzles for both practitioners and observers, but it occupies centre stage, constituting a framework within which policy concerns are discussed
Policy as Practice
Full text linkUnderstanding policy as practice means that policy does not so much take the shape of formal statements (decisions, rules, documents) but is both a process and outcome of the ordinary, situated and embodied activities which policy actors routinely enact in the course of participating in the policy process. This chapter reviews how the historical development of policy studies is intimately tied up with analysis of practice and explains how practice theory provides a philosophical programme that confirms and extends thinking of policy as practice. The chapter also considers a variety of ways in which practice has been analysed and what has been gained from these studies and their different approaches. Finally, several methods and challenges involved with studying policy as practice are discussed
Policy as (mere) problem-solving
No full textThe policy process is not ‘mere’ problem solving. The idealised vision of a linear progression from problem to solution has been rejected for more complex analyses. This chapter reviews theory in regard to all three elements of the problem orientation; problem, solution, and the process that links them. The problem itself is problematic, therefore policy analysis involves sorting through questions rather than simply seeking the best solution. Problems are already a result. Partial solutions are the norm, reached through a succession of questioning processes. The policy process is the continuing collective management of the problematic. In theories of process, a key distinction arises between analytical and post-positivist models. Problems and solutions are not autonomous from the policy process. For many scholars, the policy process, the problem and the solution have become inextricably intertwined in a creative process of self-reference: each emerges from the other in the course of interrogation
Policy as (mere) problem-solving
No full textThe policy process is not ‘mere’ problem solving. The idealised vision of a linear progression from problem to solution has been rejected for more complex analyses. This chapter reviews theory in regard to all three elements of the problem orientation; problem, solution, and the process that links them. The problem itself is problematic, therefore policy analysis involves sorting through questions rather than simply seeking the best solution. Problems are already a result. Partial solutions are the norm, reached through a succession of questioning processes. The policy process is the continuing collective management of the problematic. In theories of process, a key distinction arises between analytical and post-positivist models. Problems and solutions are not autonomous from the policy process. For many scholars, the policy process, the problem and the solution have become inextricably intertwined in a creative process of self-reference: each emerges from the other in the course of interrogation
Policy as (mere) problem-solving
No full textThe policy process is not ‘mere’ problem solving. The idealised vision of a linear progression from problem to solution has been rejected for more complex analyses. This chapter reviews theory in regard to all three elements of the problem orientation; problem, solution, and the process that links them. The problem itself is problematic, therefore policy analysis involves sorting through questions rather than simply seeking the best solution. Problems are already a result. Partial solutions are the norm, reached through a succession of questioning processes. The policy process is the continuing collective management of the problematic. In theories of process, a key distinction arises between analytical and post-positivist models. Problems and solutions are not autonomous from the policy process. For many scholars, the policy process, the problem and the solution have become inextricably intertwined in a creative process of self-reference: each emerges from the other in the course of interrogation
Working for policy
Full text linkThere are now many people involved in 'making policy', but there is not a great deal written about how they do it. Most of the books on policy tend to refer obliquely, if at all, to the actual practice of policy work, and offer little guidance to policy workers or students of policy. 'Policy work' seems to be something that you learn on the job. This book addresses directly the nature of policy work. It blends academic and experiential knowledge of the policy process in describing, analysing and evaluating what modern policy workers do in particular situations, and why is that the appropriate thing to do, how it contributes to the policy process, what impact it has, and what can we learn from this about the skills and knowledge required for policy work in complex modern societies.
Table of contents:
1 Understanding Policy Work / Hal Colebatch, Robert Hoppe and Mirko Noordegraaf
B Accounts of Policy Work
2 Giving Accounts of Policy Work / Hal Colebatch
3 Academic Accounts of Policy Experience / Mirko Noordegraaf
C Constructing Meaning Through Policy Work
4 New Life for Old Buildings: Mediating Between Different Meanings / Tamara Metze
5 Policy Workers Tinkering with Uncertainty: Dutch Econometric Policy Advice in Action / Annick de Vries, Willem Halffman and Rob Hoppe
D Policy Work as Mediation
6 Managing the Problematic in Policy Work / Lydia Sterrenberg
7 Evaluation as Policy Work: Puzzling and Powering in a Dutch Program for Sustainable Development / Anne Loeber
E Policy Work Beyond the Nation-State
8 Policy Work Between National and International Contexts:
Maintaining Ongoing Collaboration / Tanja Woeltjes
9 Flying Blind in Brussels: How National Officials Do European Business Without Political Steering / Karin Geuijen and Paul ’t Hart
F Linking Systemic and Experiential Knowledge
10 Is Evidence-Based Policy Making Really Possible? Reflections for Policymakers and Academics on Making Use of Research in the Work of Policy / Amanda Williams
11 Locating the Work of Policy / Cris Shore
G Conclusion
12 The Lessons for Policy Work / Hal Colebatch, Robert Hoppe and Mirko NoordegraafWorking for Policy brengt verhalen van ervaringsdeskundigen en wetenschappelijk onderzoekers samen in de beschrijving en analyse van hoe hedendaags beleidswerk verschilt van traditionele theorie en beleidsanalyse. Het boek biedt beschrijvingen, analyses en beoordelingen van wat hedendaagse beleidsmakers feitelijk doen in bepaalde situaties, waarom zij dat als juist zien en wat ze precies bijdragen aan beleidsactiviteiten. Daarnaast komt aan de orde welk effect dit heeft en wat we daarvan kunnen leren over de kennis, vaardigheden en competenties die gevergd worden in beleidswerk onder condities van 'governance'
Working for Policy
Full text linkThere are now many people involved in 'making policy', but there is not a great deal written about how they do it. Most of the books on policy tend to refer obliquely, if at all, to the actual practice of policy work, and offer little guidance to policy workers or students of policy. 'Policy work' seems to be something that you learn on the job. This book addresses directly the nature of policy work. It blends academic and experiential knowledge of the policy process in describing, analysing and evaluating what modern policy workers do in particular situations, and why is that the appropriate thing to do, how it contributes to the policy process, what impact it has, and what can we learn from this about the skills and knowledge required for policy work in complex modern societies
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