A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis - International Student Edition

Eugene Bardach has been teaching graduate-level policy analysis workshop classes since 1973 at the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, in which time he has coached some five hundred projects. He is a broadly based political scientist with wide-ranging teaching and research interests. His focus is primarily on policy implementation and public management, and most recently on problems of facilitating better interorganizational collaboration in service delivery (e.g., in human services, environmental enforcement, fire prevention, and habitat preservation). He also maintains an interest in problems of homeland defense, as well as regulatory program design and execution, particularly in areas of health, safety, consumer protection, and equal opportunity. Bardach has developed novel teaching methods and materials at Berkeley, has directed and taught in residentially based training programs for higher-level public managers, and has worked for the Office of Policy Analysis at the US Department of the Interior. He is the recipient of the 1998 Donald T. Campbell Award of the Policy Studies Organization for creative contribution to the methodology of policy analysis, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This book is based on his experience teaching students the principles of policy analysis and then helping them to execute their project work.Eric M. Patashnik is the Julis-Rabinowitz Professor of Public Policy, a professor of political science, and chair of the Political Science Department at Brown University. He is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. He previously served as director of Brown’s Master of Public Affairs program. Before coming to Brown, Patashnik held faculty positions at the University of Virginia (UVA), UCLA, and Yale University. During his time at UVA, he served as associate dean and acting dean at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Patashnik’s research focuses on the politics of American national policymaking, especially health policy, the welfare state, and the reform process. He is the author or editor of nine books. Patashnik has twice won the Louis Brownlow Book Award of the National Academy of Public Administration and has also won the Don K. Price Award of the American Political Science Association. Patashnik received his master of public policy and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. Earlier in his career, Patashnik was a legislative analyst for the US House Administration Subcommittee on Elections.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsIntroductionPART I: THE EIGHTFOLD PATHStep One: Define the ProblemStep Two: Assemble Some EvidenceStep Three: Construct the AlternativesStep Four: Select the CriteriaStep Five: Project the OutcomesStep Six: Confront the Trade-OffsStep Seven: Stop, Focus, Narrow, Deepen, Decide!Step Eight: Tell Your StoryPART II: ASSEMBLING EVIDENCEGetting StartedLocating Relevant SourcesGaining Access and Engaging AssistanceConducting a Policy Research InterviewUsing Language to Characterize and CalibrateProtecting CredibilityStrategic Dilemmas of Policy ResearchPART III: HANDLING A DESIGN PROBLEMIt’s a Production SystemCrosswalks to the Eightfold PathDefine the Problem-- Focus on a Primary OutcomeConstruct the Alternatives-- Configure the System’s Organizational Structure and Its Operating ProcessesSelect the Criteria-- Define the Objectives to Be AchievedProject the Outcomes-- Test Whether It Will WorkConfront the Trade-Offs-- Examine the System from Multiple PerspectivesDesign a Transition StrategyPART V: “SMART (BEST) PRACTICES” RESEARCH: UNDERSTANDING AND MAKING USE OF WHAT LOOK LIKE GOOD IDEAS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSEDevelop Realistic ExpectationsAnalyze Smart PracticesObserve the PracticeDescribe Generic VulnerabilitiesBut Will It Work Here?Back to the Eightfold PathAPPENDIX A: THINGS GOVERNMENTS DOI. TaxesII. RegulationIII. Subsidies and GrantsIV. Service ProvisionV. Agency BudgetsVI. InformationVII. The Structure of Private RightsVIII. The Framework of Economic ActivityIX. Education and ConsultationX. Financing and ContractingXI. Bureaucratic and Political ReformsAPPENDIX B: UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONSMissionEnvironmentPerformance MeasurementTechnologyProduction/Delivery ProcessesFrontline Workers and Co-ProducersPartners and Other OutsidersCentralization/DecentralizationCulture and CommunicationsPoliticsLeadershipLeadershipAPPENDIX C: STRATEGIC ADVICE ON THE DYNAMICS OF GATHERING POLITICAL SUPPORTSequencingTimingAPPENDIX D: SUGGESTIONS FOR INCORPORATING “BIG DATA” AND RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE INTO POLICY ANALYSISReferencesIndex