Mesh topology simplification revisited

The terminologies in policy analysis require better understanding for us to be versatile with the nature and dynamics of policy analysis and decision making process. The terminologies are policy demands, policy decisions, policy statement, policy output, policy outcomes, policy studies and policy science. Let us examine each of the terms

1. Policy Demands: In Public policy analysis, demands often emanate from the populace based on their interests on areas they want policy makers to look into. These demands are request that can guide decision making process by the key actors in policy formulation.

Basically, policy demands are usually the values, claims and interests from the people for policy actions or inactions in order to solve specific social problem. This conforms to the argument of Chandler and Plano's (1988) view that public policy is the strategic allocation of resources to alleviate national problems or government concerns. The important clause of policy demand is that responses from policy makers should be designed to meet the yearnings and demands of the people. Invariably, public policies should respond to the need of the people that demand for satisfactory policy response from the policy formulators. The demands represent the input from the people.

2. Policy Decisions: Policy demands need to be transformed for authoritative decision. This policy taken by the authority represents policy decisions that imply government direction. The import of policy decisions is to give authoritative direction to policy actions. Policy demand can only receive action for implementation when public officials/policy-makers has given authoritative approval to its contents and direction. Policy decisions include the decisions to enact statutes, make judicial interpretation of laws on conflicting matters, issue executive orders, issue administrative rules, and so on.

3. Policy Statements: Generally, the official or formal expression of public policy by institutions of government, including legislative statutes, presidential orders, decrees, regulations and administrative rules fall under policy statement. Policy statement is largely associated with a democratic government to carry the people along. This view is supported by Dye (1978) in his assertion that policy statement indicates the measures that would be put in place by the authority for improvement of citizens’ life. Put differently, policy statements also include speeches made by public officials indicating the position of government on a particular issue as well as when and how it will be achieved. Policy statements are often laced with ambiguity arising from the conflicting interests and competency of public officials making such statements.

3. Policy Outputs: This is simply the manifestation of public policy in accordance with the actual government execution of policies. It is a stage of realistic based on the policy statement. Also policy outputs are described as the concrete, sure able and identifiable projects or policies implemented by the government. A policy is simply what government has actually done as against what it proposes to do. For instance, the number of roads constructed by

government as distinct from the number projected, the number of schools built by government as distinct from the number proposed, etc.

4. Policy Outcomes: The overall manifestation of public policies with particular reference to attainment of goals. This could be intended or unintended consequences of policy for the society where the policy is implemented and this could be as a result of the action or inaction of government. Policy outcomes involve appraising whether public policies achieve their set goals in terms of the successes recorded. This can also be referred to as policy evaluation. It indicates the perception and assessment of the government policy by the beneficiaries or the general populace.

5. Policy targeted population: This indicates the main beneficiaries of a policy. Not all government policies are beneficial to everybody and such is the essence of understanding the people specific policy is targeted at. For instance, the immunization policy is usually targeted at children and they remain the targeted population as far as the policy is concerned. In public policy analysis, we need to understand what informs some policies and who the real targeted audience to benefit from it are.

6. Policy Studies: In simple terms, this entails the analysis of the policy process by placing emphasis on the policy formulation. They could be normative or analytical. A policy environment is normative when it critically studies how policy is made and how the processes could be improved. It is therefore the study of the interdisciplinary nature of public policy: politics, economic, operational research, organisational theory and public administration. It is analytical when it deals with developing the models and explanation of the policy process specific target of people.

7. Policy Science: This is the method of investigating the policy process with the view to making the study of decision-making process scientific. It is particularly a problem-solving approach that cuts across many disciplines to deal with the most important social decisions.

SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

What do you understand by Policy Statement?

4.0 CONCLUSION

In this unit, we have been able to explain the relevant terminologies in public policy analysis. The importance of those terms is that it assists our understanding and assessment of different government approaches to issues

arising. It also enhances our comprehension on how polices are drafted.

5.0 SUMMARY

The understanding of those terminologies is vital in making valid analysis of any public policy. The terms make a better clarification of relevant keywords in the public policy analysis. This will expose students to have better outlook on different government policies and major factors guiding government actions and inactions.

6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENTS (TMAs)

(i) Differentiate policy demands and policy output?

(ii) What is your understanding of policy targeted population?

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Chandler, R. C. and Plano, J. C. (1988) The Public Administration Dictionary. England: ABC. CLIO.

Dye, T. R. (1976). Policy Analysis. Alabama.

Ebenezer, O (2011) Public Policy Analysis. Academia.edu