Process analysis
Process analysis could be referred to as the rational breakdown that could be used in understanding a narrowly defined problem. The breakdown of the production process helps give a review of the entire process flow within the defined problem and enables an individual to have a coherent course of action. Various resources have been utilized in understanding the process and approach to policy analysis, thus giving an empirical study and understanding of its overall importance. Stewart, Hedge & Pester (2008) argue that the utilization of process analysis is essential in social science research. Various approaches have been associated with the ideology, where it might vary with the analysis of either a part of the entire policy process. Stewart, Hedge & Pester (2008) provide the various approaches that are associated with policy analysis, that are all differentiated with the primary objective of the type of approach that might be utilized by scientists and other scholars; for instance, the process approach could be used if the researcher wishes to examine a part of the policy process. The same researcher could also utilize another form of approach, such as the normative or prescriptive approach, to find out the proper prescription of policy implementation to decision-makers or other related parties.
Stewart, Hedge & Pester’s (2008) understanding of policy analysis, especially during the policy-making process, could be closely related to Dunn’s (2008) ideology behind the process. Dunn (2008) states that to understand the process analysis and its impact in policy-making, one must have a clear understanding of the historical perspective it has had in the policy-making process. It was mainly used as an approach that policy-makers used to solve various political problems and have been used extensively, even in modern days. The intrinsic process, which contains multiple phases, makes it possible to achieve its role. First, just as Stewart, Hedge & Pester (2008) identified, the process is mainly designed to produce the policy-relevant information that could be useful in all the phases necessary in policy-making. Another significant role in using policy analysis in its practice is considered as delayed or ethically controversial because of the many patterns of information and phases needed in coming up with these different policies.
Dunn (2008) also provides intrinsic information as to how process analysis could be useful in policy-making. It is utilized effectively during problem-structuring, where relevant information is provided, enabling policy-makers to discover hidden assumptions and diagnose the causes, while mapping the possible objectives. Such an approach will be aligned with the various approaches considered, like Stewart, Hedge & Pester (2008) elaborate.
It is also useful when it comes to forecasting the policy outcomes during the process. Policy-relevant information is given during the policy formulation. It thus helps examine all the various plausible, normative, and potential valued futures that these different proposed policies. For instance, Dunn (2008) provides a credible example where a Health Care Finance Administration would employ various forecasting methods to estimate the effects of revenue shortfalls on programs such as the Medicare trust fund. He elaborates that if there is an absence of new healthcare policy initiatives to be implemented in the future, then future benefits to be provided by Medicare might be reduced. There are other uses of policy analysis that are considered integral in the policy-making process, such as providing recommendations and monitoring and observing policy outcomes. It also is regarded as a crucial process that is useful in the evaluation of policy outcomes.
Kraft & Furlong (2015) also align their ideology and understanding of process analysis as the process in which a plan of action is adopted by individuals, groups, or policy-makers to achieve a particular policy. However, their approach is one that elaborates on the theoretical process that is associated with politics and public policy. Unlike Stewart, Hedge & Pester (2008) and Dunn (2008), they provide different theoretical approaches to policy-making procedures and processes. For instance, the Elite theory elaborates the policy-making process is emphasized by the values and preferences used by the governing elites that are different from those of the public. Various assumptions come with these different theoretical approaches, which might affect the different stages of process analysis. It brings about the differences in these theoretical approaches. However, these different assumptions and other approaches will determine the overall criterion that policy-makers will utilize when evaluating different policies and proposals during the process analysis. For effective policies to be implemented, aspects such as their efficiency, equity, political feasibility, and social acceptability, among others, will be taken into account. Kraft & Furlong’s (2015) understanding of process analysis is similar to all the other authors provided and would be considered significant and credible.
On the other hand, Peters (2005) highlights the various problems associated with policy analysis and instruments. One should consider that today’s world’s social issues or issues should be regarded as dynamic, changing over time. Because of this particular reason, policy-makers should define policy problems in a manner that is effective for policy design implementation. Peters (2005) elaborates that various stages are presented when utilizing policy analysis in addressing such issues related to policy-making. Understanding the problem and framing the problem for solutions are integral for and policy-makers to understand the overall process of policy-making. Peters (2005) also elaborates o the characteristics that policy problems have during problem analysis. Solubility, for instance, is whether policy problems could be solved or not. Complexity deals with the level of different aspects associated with the policy problem. It could either be considered programmatic or political, depending on the different interests of the policy. Other elements, such as the question of scale. The author also mentions the scope of activity or the monetarization of the problem. It provides a different view and approach to understanding the process analysis and policy-making as utilized in today’s world.
In retrospect, the aspect of process analysis in policy-making involves various processes for its succession. Most policy-makers are conversant with the different factors considered integral in ensuring that proper policies are made and implemented. Determining and analyzing the other problems and assumptions at various stages will enable the societal issues to become recognized, thus facilitating the agency officials’ adoption of policies to evaluate them and eventually adopt them. From the above materials, all the authors provide the necessary information that correlates with each other, thus providing a comprehensive look at what the public policy-making process entails. The conceptions of policy designs are considered to have a well-developed conception for addressing public problems. However, these approaches and processes do not necessarily have the needed developed conceptions of the exact problems.