UNIT II STUDY GUIDE Steps in Policy Analysis PA 5306, Public Policy 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title Unit Lesson Introduction The opening unit reviewed why the study of public policy is crucial in the public administration field, policy implications from a domestic and international perspective, and how the practice integrates into the public sphere. The Unit II lesson introduces the formal steps of policy analysis, ethical considerations, and the fact that policymaking can be consensual or contentious. Dye (2017) defines the process of policy analysis in five stages. Public Policy or Public Invasion of Privacy? Today, sending text messages is as common as drinking a glass of water. In 2008, McKinley and Wald reported that a rush hour metro train full of commuters near downtown Los Angeles slammed into a freight train. They concluded that the operator of the passenger train in charge was also text messaging continuously while operating the commuter train. Some organizations have prohibited these types of activities when operating public transportation. Do you think the policy is difficult to enforce, especially when there are no monitoring devices in place? Because of the increasing interest in public transportation safety practices, California Public Utility Commissions banned drivers of moving trains from using handheld devices, which includes texting or receiving calls from cell phones (McKinley & Wald, 2008). Because of the number of people who were killed and injured in the accident discussed above, many different policy recommendation conversations likely ensued. Solutions could include installing video monitoring cameras in the control cabs, installing automatic braking system that detect oncoming trains on the same track, or an outright ban on any handheld device from being turned on while operators are in control of passenger trains. Commuter train racing down the tracks (Owen-Wahl, 2006) Five stages of policy analysis (Dye, 2017) PA 5306, Public Policy 3 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title In the past couple of weeks, how many drivers have you seen texting while driving? Madden and Rainie (2010) reported that one third of drivers text while operating a motor vehicle. With safety concerns in mind, should state and federal government policy makers attempt to establish one policy for all states concerning cell phone operation? Before a decision can be made on this scenario, a definition of a driver distraction may need to be made. As one can see, the policy analysis stage requires one to ask questions to define areas of concern so implementation and policy evaluation can occur. We will use the handheld device scenario throughout the policy analysis process. Remember that policy makers and the public will ultimately decide policy standards and application. Problem Definition and Analysis Monitoring a set of conditions that are not satisfactory in their present state is the beginning stage of defining a problem. The terms cause and effect must be clearly defined so a problem can be analyzed, resulting in a viable solution instead of resolving an effect of the problem. An effect is produced by the cause. Reasonable sample size collections of data and facts should also be assembled so policy makers can refer to past occurrences and observe important trends over a specified time. These time factor elements can help determine if events change or stay consistent or if intervention helped or hurt the results. In this initial stage, questions to ask may involve where or how the problem exists and its major causes. Illustrated by our scenario, these questions may transfer over to inquiries that ask if cell phone usage only pertains to automobile operations. What type of policy will actually bring down accident rates? Are there other driving distractions while operating a vehicle such as in-car entertainment systems or navigational aid devices? Drafting Policy Options After problem definition occurs, policy makers begin to brainstorm how to address the problem. An important aspect of policymaking involves the availability of public funding. Based on available resources, solutions may be constricted due to competing departments or higher priority issues to resolve. Defining policy alternatives may be the most important stage. Coming up with innovative ways to solve public problems within monetary means is the key to successful policy options. For our scenario, this occurs when conventional policy options are not feasible. Solutions may evolve around practicality. As an example, what cell phone usage policy will actually be accepted by the public? Policy alternatives may involve educating drivers, providing sanctions for policy violators, or disabling cell phone power while in moving vehicles. Policy Decision Implications After policy options have been defined, the policy-maker’s priorities must now be shifted to policy effectiveness. Evaluation criteria should be measured across many variables. The list can be lengthy, but not all factors for a given problem will be similar to new or upcoming challenges. These implications can involve ethical considerations, impacts on the environment, political feasibility, or available public resources. Supporting critique can also include the cost of the action, or, for example, the cost if no action is required. From the cell phone use in the vehicle scenario, will drivers find the new policy acceptable? Can public behavior be observed and policy enforced? What type of sanctions will prevent drivers from using their phones? In our case, minimal economic impacts should also be taken into consideration. How will car manufacturers react when a new policy ultimately punishes drivers for using cell phone technology? Eventually, policy makers will have to frame their decisions based on internal and external stakeholders’ willingness to support new policy expectations. Measuring Alternatives When presenting final decisions, it is important to explain what the alternatives were in the final policy selection. This action will help stakeholders understand the options reviewed, pros and cons of each alternative, possible economic impacts, and the best time to implement the new policy. From a stakeholder Safety concerns for texting while driving (Dal’lin, 2008) PA 5306, Public Policy 4 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title perspective, questions to be addressed should include which alternatives are better. They should also specify types of analysis that define policy options and the available evidence that exists to support alternate claims of effectiveness. The cell phone scenario lends itself to government action when measuring alternatives at various government levels. Decisions should include which policy option will have the greatest effect of discouraging cell phone usage while driving and if local or regional government will be able to find ways to practically enforce new cell phone use policies. Lastly, a cost-benefits analysis should assist decision-makers in narrowing down policy choices. Collaboration and input should be encouraged by all parties to provide strengths, limitations, and benefits for each alternative. Ethical Values There are several factors to consider when reviewing policy analysis. With population diversity increasing in many U.S. regions, implications effecting consideration for public rights, justice, interest, and equality abound. Different ethnic groups in a multicultural society deserve to be recognized and considered when policy is developed. Policy debates over welfare support, citizenship rights, and human stem cell research include a review of values rather than just economic terms when covering the bases of entitlement and population wellbeing. The result should increase the likelihood of policy passage and citizen benefit. Desirable Conclusions When recommendations are finalized, a single course of policy action is rare. Many studies entail a subset of solutions involving various completion stages addressed over a particular time. Practical solutions will not always be free of limitations. This occurs because each supporting element is not always funded one hundred percent of the time, and not every tool to measure success is always available. At this juncture, it is prudent to ask critical questions concerning expected success rates and to validate collected data from which conclusions were drawn. Being sensitive to political reality reflects policy makers’ sensitivity to interested parties that are affected negatively because of economic loss, market shrinkage, or limited business opportunities. Finding the most desirable conclusion may not always be responded to in a favorable manner, especially in the cell phone use while driving a vehicle scenario. Cell phone manufacturers may even take a stance that government policy should not interfere with the advancement of hands-free devices. Summary Policy analysis is debated at all levels of government and the process of providing safer and efficient services is expected by the citizenry. Many players rightly take their places in democratic society and expect to be involved in the betterment of society. These groups can consist of special interest groups, for-profit businesses, think tanks, and executive organizations. Students of public policy need to know who these stakeholders are, to understand the connection and implications to public issues, and to have an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of policy studies to be reviewed and modernized. Today, there is much interest and involvement from special interest groups who are active around policy makers. These groups’ aim is ensuring their ideology is represented in particular industries (Carley, 2013). Do you think there is unfair influence and support that dictates established policy from these groups? If so, why do you believe they are allowed to continue their representation? Financially supporting elected policy makers can certainly help certain policy preferences to stay in place or modify policy that favors certain industry. Some of these are ethical questions and observations. For the future of new policy makers, thinking creatively to solve new public challenges with limited resources apart from undue influence from special interest groups is the new norm. References Carley, M. (2013). Rational techniques in policy analysis: Policy studies institute. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Science & Technology. Dal’lin, R. A., Jr. [Reynaldodallin]. (2008). Driving cellular by typing sms text message fine [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/driving-cellular-by-typing-sms-844132/ Dye, T. R. (2017). Understanding public policy (15th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Madden, M., & Rainie, L. (2010). Adults and cell phone distractions. Retrieved from PA 5306, Public Policy 5 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title http://www.pewinternet.org/2010/06/18/adults-and-cell-phone-distractions/ McKinley, J., & Wald, M. L. (2008, September 18). California bans texting by operators of trains. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/us/19crash.html Owen-Wahl, R. [Meditations]. (2006). Abstract blur Britain British business cargo [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/abstract-blur-britain-british-1239439