About

Anyone involved in the public policy process needs in their possession strong analytical skills, and the ability to apply a variety of research and evaluation methods within a complex political environment. This course will review analytical approaches that are essential for effective policy development. It will cover the nature and role of policy analysis, interactions among social institutions, markets, and government. There will be in-depth examination of how to conduct effective policy analysis, manage the policy development process, and produce sound, persuasive policy reports.

Key benefits of attending
At the end of this course, you will be familiar with:
• What policy analysis involves and its typical institutional settings
• The attributes required to be an effective policy analyst
• What role government plays in society and its limitations and strengths compared with other social institutions, including markets
• How to integrate market analysis, cost-benefit analysis, comparative institutional analysis, and evaluation methods into your policy research
• How to effectively engage in consultation, team work, and conflict management during policy formulation
• How to clearly scope and develop your policy ideas and present your policy analyses effectively for multiple audiences
• How to work effectively with others to promote sound policy solutions

Course structure
The course is organised into a series of modules, each of which involves a formal presentation of material followed by structured discussions and case work. Participants are encouraged to relate elements of each module to their current preoccupations and practices. As the course proceeds, the material moves from a focus on concepts to a focus on applications. The modules are supported by written notes and guides for additional reading.

Who should attend?
All those involved in planning for, and producing policy at a local and central government level, including policy analysts who are new to their role, or analysts who would like to update and refresh their policy skills.

Outline

Day one: A Focus on Concepts

An introduction to policy analysis
A survey of typical contexts for policy analysis and the role of the policy analyst.• The role of policy analysis in society
• The challenges that impede effective policy analysis
• Key relations of the policy analyst
• Formal and informal requirements for the policy analyst
• Managing your career as a policy analyst

The institutional setting
An examination of social settings and processes in which policy analysis occurs.

• The organisation of society, distinguishing individual and collective decision-making processes
• The institutional context within which policy advice is delivered
• How policies are developed and move through the machinery of government
• The stages involved in policy formation, consultation, evaluation, coordination and implementation
• Consultation, team work, and conflict management as an inherent part of policy development

Individual decision-making and market processes
A review of economic approaches to modelling individual and collective action.

• Modelling individual choice
• Modelling market processes
• The assumptions underlying market analysis
• The relative strengths and weaknesses of individual versus collective decision-making in different contexts

Rationales for public policy
A review of how problems arise from decentralised decision-making.

• Assessing market failures as rationales for public policy
• Assessing equity concerns as a rationale for public policy
• Assessing other non-market rationales for public policy

Policy instruments and the limits of Government action
A review of the policy choices open to governments, how to compare them, and the ways that Government actions might themselves create problems.

• Reviewing things governments can do
• Thinking in terms of efficiency, equity, and administrative simplicity
• Comparing policy instruments and developing outcomes matrices
• The notion of government failure
• Comprehensive problem and solution analysis

Frameworks for policy analysis
An introduction to major frameworks used by policy analysts, how to use them, and their comparative strengths and weaknesses.

• Comparative institutional analysis
• Benefit-cost analysis
• Programme evaluation
• Environmental and social impact assessment
• Gender and race analysis

Process management techniques
An overview of the interpersonal exchanges typically involved in policy development and strategies that policy analysts can use to effectively manage their interactions with others.

• Consulting informants
• Working in teams
• Facilitating meetings
• Managing conflict

Conclusion: Taking stock and looking ahead
An interactive discussion concerning the material covered to this point, what participants should do to prepare for what comes next, and an overview of day two.

Day two: A Focus on Applications

Defining problems and developing policy responses
A review of approaches to defining problems and proposing solutions. The definition of policy problems is never straight forward and one person’s solution will often turn out to be another person’s problem.

• Social conditions versus policy problems
• Intuitive approaches to problem definition and generation of solutions
• Rational approaches and the use of frameworks
• Considering unintended consequences
• The “sensemaking” approach
• Politics, agendas, and policy choice

Looking ahead to implementation and evaluation
An overview of implementation and evaluation issues and concerns. Good policy analysis anticipates problems during policy implementation and concerns of programme evaluators.

• Competing conceptions of implementation
• Innovation, incentives, and institutional inertia
• Forward and backward mapping
• Scenario writing
• Designing implementation with evaluation in mind
• Key concerns for evaluators

Research and consultation methods
An examination of research tools, exploring the connections between research, consultation and policy making.

• Building expert knowledge using multiple sources of information
• Selecting and applying analytical frameworks
• Developing literature reviews
• Working with secondary and primary data sources
• Consulting with members of the target community
• Establishing a panel of “critical friends”
• Writing as you research

Developing policy documents
An overview of substantive, technical, and process issues associated with producing and “selling” policy reports.

• Understanding what is useful to your client
• Displaying information and policy options in relevant formats
• Dealing with unanticipated decisions or non-decisions
• Integrating policy decisions with implementation
• Looking forward and reasoning back

Continuing to build your capabilities
A review of strategies that reflective policy practitioners can use to improve their potential as professionals, taking them from ‘good to great’.

• Managing and prioritising competing demands
• Linking project work to your career goals
• Inviting feedback and constructive criticism
• Lesson drawing from cases of policy success and policy failure
• Improving your professional reading habits
• Becoming a policy entrepreneur 
Course review and evaluation session
An interactive discussion focusing on topics covered in the course, issues that have arisen as the course has progressed, what participants have gained from the course, how participants will integrate what they have learned into their daily work practices, and how the course could be improved or extended in the future.

Facilitator

In-house Training