With this blog you will be writing a report. It is an analytical and
applied piece of writing using a supplied format that makes you analyse a
policy problem in a very structured manner. The policy tripod makes
you examine the economic efficiency, social effectiveness (targeting) and
political feasibility of your proposal.
The components
of the policy proposal (format) must include:
1. Title Page
2. Letter of
Transmittal
3. One Page Summary
4. Policy Problem
Statement
5. Policy Analysis –
Using the Policy Tripod
6. Proposed public
consultation
7. Implementation
8. Evaluation
& the specific Recommendation
9. A separate
Postscript:Policy Reflection Addendum
1.
Title Page
The title
page of your policy proposal should include the usual details and a simple one
or two line title for your policy proposal.
2.
Letter of Transmittal
Identify your
fictional position, your fictional organisation and to whom you are writing
this policy for. For instance: you may be in the public service, writing for
the Minister. Your letter of transmittal identifies you, who you are writing
the proposal for, and why. It is brief – two to three paragraphs. Its purpose
is to indicate who specifically is your decision maker (by name and title): why
it has been written, and what it recommends. There should be no detail.
3.
One-Page Summary of your Policy Proposal
You succinctly
identify the issue (defining the problem, explaining why it is an issue and
locating it within the context of related policy) and the recommendation –
summarising your analysis using the policy tripod. You may use bullet points,
headings and sub-headings. You should be able to say what your proposal is in
one or two sentences.
If you cannot do
this – it is not clear in your mind. Indicate exactly what your policy will do
in relation to a specific policy problem.
4.
Problem Statement & the specific
Recommendation
This is where
you define the problem you are addressing and say what your recommendation is.
You may state options – but you must indicate (up the front) your specific
recommendation. Analysis of the values and principles underlying the policy
proposal – this will be important – so that the policy can be placed within the
context of the government’s approach to governing. It goes to the heart of what
a government (or an organization) is and is not about. Although the exercise is
fictional it is to be made as realistic as
possible, with your policy analysis based on real research and evidence. This
means that the values and policies of current political parties, governments
and oppositions need to be taken into account. Do not waste space with pages of
background information – a page of background is enough.
5.
Policy Analysis – Using the
Policy Tripod
This is the
section that should be the bulk (space and words) of your assignment. You will
analyse your policy and its context (e.g. in relation to
existing policies, politics and programs); assessment of relevant research
(both Australian and international) that may inform policy direction. You must
interrogate your policy using the policy tripod:
- Economic efficiency
- Social effectiveness (including social equity considerations)
- Political feasibility (including stakeholder analysis & trade-offs)
The policy must
pass the test of this tripod – it must be economically efficient (the cost and
revenue sources declared), socially effective (that it targets the specific
group or behaviour that requires attention, and leakage is minimised and it is
here that you can raise social equity and justice issues and where relevant,
Australia’s responsibilities under international Human Rights Treaties) and
politically feasible (it can gain enough support by key stakeholders to be
passed). This will mean trade-offs between economic efficiency and social
effectiveness to gain political support. Gathering coalitions of support and
how to handle opponents is therefore important.
In the Political
feasibility section there is to be a stakeholder analysis: Identification of the major stakeholders and their stances on the
issue (e.g. pressure groups, peak bodies such as ACOSS, political parties,
citizen advocates, international watch dogs etc.). Don’t forget other
government departments and other levels of government – they are also
(important) stakeholders. What is their relative power? Are they prepared to
use it on this issue? Who is likely to be neutral or support/oppose the
proposal? How can a winning coalition be put together? How can opposition be sidelined
or at least contained?
6.
Plans for public consultation
What methods
of public or community engagement or public consultation need to be specified
and justified (drawing on unit materials as to methods). Will you use
deliberative democracy? How much credence will be given to community sentiment
and by what methods?
7.
Implementation
Identification
of the institutional arrangements relevant to the policy area and assessment of
effectiveness – the current law, are changes to legislation needed? Can it be done
by a regulation? Are there any impediments? Any jurisdictional or
constitutional problems ie are there Commonwealth-State relations implications?
How might the policy be implemented?
What tools will be used? What would an implementation plan look like? This is a
very minor but important part of the assignment.
8.
Evaluation
How might the
policy be evaluated? How do we know ‘what works’? And for whom? Is it vaule for
money? Who should do the evaluation? This is a minor part of the assignment – a
paragraph will do, but nonetheless important. Please do not
exceed the word limit in this assignment (3000 words). This also means that you
must not hide words in excess of the word limit in appendices or footnotes.
9.
Postscript:Policy Reflection Addendum
in a paragraph,
you need to reflect on the policy analysis issues that are most pressing in
your proposal and give reasons why this is the case. This means drawing on your
unit materials. For example, this might include reflections on power and
interests, implementation, public value etc. and is a vehicle for you to
demonstrate your knowledge of key debates/resources/thinkers. This links the
policy analysis work you have done to your assignment area and the issues
raised.
