Social Science 4: Understanding Policy-Making PDF

Social Science 4 Understanding Policy-making In today’s session, we will cover 11.1 Perspectives and Approaches in Policy-Making Targets: Know and understand the meaning of a policy Identify the various approaches and perspectives on policy-making Competency: Explain the various persp...

Social Science 4 Understanding Policy-making In today’s session, we will cover 11.1 Perspectives and Approaches in Policy-Making Targets: Know and understand the meaning of a policy Identify the various approaches and perspectives on policy-making Competency: Explain the various perspectives/approaches on policymaking Is this policy or law? Is this policy or law? Is this policy or law? Policy vs Law POLICY LAW A course of action to meet a certain Set of standards, principles, and goal, outcome, or result procedures that must be followed Would depend on the authorities of Undergoes the legislative process— a department or organization hearings, resolutions, etc. Subject to the law, but these can be Despite its supremacy, laws can be made into a law a basis for a policy Policy-making A tool used by the government to address and meet societal issues and concerns for the benefit and common good of its people (Point Park University Admin, 2017) Shapes and impacts the everyday lives of the people where the latter has the right and obligation to take part, to fight, and to influence policy decisions (Hanauer, 2015) One of the essential functions of a government, a group, or an organization for the betterment of the lives of its people Policy-making Along the process, the government, groups or organization, should take into consideration the following: 1. Conduct first a research and consultation on what specific policy should be focused on laying all the formal and legal bases; 2. Work on a structured process where each actor will play an important and effective role in the process; 3. Move away from a highly politicized context where only a limited group of persons will benefit instead prioritize on how to improve the quality and everyday lives of its people and the public in general; and 4. Implement a system of accountability where policy-makers are to be held responsible. (LG 11.1 Knot) Wicked Problems Introduced by design theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber, in 1973, to draw attention to the complexities and challenges of addressing planning and social policy problems. A problem that is difficult or impossible to solve, because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are difficult to define, identify, or recognize. IGI Global. (n.d.) “What is Wicked Problem.” https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/wicked-problem/32558 Rittel, H. W., & Webber, M. M. (1973). "Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning." Policy sciences, 4(2), 155-169.  Characteristics of Wicked Problem (adapted from Rittel & Webber, 1973) Policy-making A four-player pursuit refereed by the media where the public, NGOs, experts, and the private sectors jostle for power and influence that they overlook the public who watches from the sidelines. (Bednar, 2013) “Public policy keeps forgetting about the public.”