Problems In Implementation
A policy can be conflicting directives, limited administrative competence, inadequate administrative resources, etc. Unsuccessful implementation: Unsuccessful implementation, on the other hand, Occur programme/project is carried out. but it fails to produce the intended results. The causes of 10 unsuccessful implementations can be a lack of clarity of objectives. deviation and announce arise with time, general environmental factors, lack of understands p areas beneficiaries and organizational bottlenecks. We have discussed above, the public policy implementation process where we have attempted to take note of the various factors that affect the implementation process.
It may, however, be to say that the study of the implementation process. problems and remedies are in infancy. The nature of the implementation process is exactly opposite to the policy adoption process: “instead of becoming concentrated at one place it gets dispersed at every place”. Due to this inherent nature of the implementation process, it is extremely difficult to comprehend all its facets at the same time.” Policy formulation and implementation proceed by trial and error. The formulators of the policy and administrators who implement it learn by experience. It is indeed a very difficult exercise. To quote Eugene Bardach: It is hard enough to design public policies and programmes that look good on paper. It is harder still to formulate them in words and slogans that resonate pleasingly in the ears of political leaders and the constituencies to which they are responsible. And it is excruciatingly hard to implement them in a way that pleases anyone at all, including the supposed beneficiaries or clients.
Policy Evaluation
Once the policy is formulated and it is implemented it is necessary to evaluate the policy. Policy · evaluation is concerned with determining the impact of policy on real-life conditions. It is an attempt to assess the content and effects of policy on those for whom it is intended. Policy evaluation means commenting on the merits and demerits of a policy, that is valve judgments have to be made. Agency and programme officials, bureaucrats and others are naturally going to be concerned about the possible political consequences of evaluation.
If the results do not come out in their favour or show them in a wrong perspective, their careers ‘may be in jeopardy Consequently government officials may discourage evaluation studies, refuse access to data show incomplete records, or create various other hurdles in the researcher’s process of policy evaluation. Policy evaluation is indeed a difficult process. Sometimes it is a systematic activity, other times rather haphazard or sporadic.
Policy evaluation in government is conducted not only by institutionalised governmental agencies but also by the communication media, university scholars private research institutions, pressure groups, etc. The importance of policy evaluation cannot be understated. A systematic evaluation of the policy ensures that mistakes are not repeated and Future policies are designed to ensure maximum effectiveness. It is the need of the hour that proper means should be devised to effectively evaluate all the facets of policy so that proper lessons can be learnt for the future.
Civil Society And Public Policy
Society has come to consist of three distinct components, state sector, market sector and civic sector. The relationship between these three constituents has been a matter of debate all through the evolution of the concept of civil society. The problem lies with the exact meaning of the term civil society, which is sometimes contrasted with the state and the market but, sometimes the state itself is seen as constituting the civil society. Civil society is generally defined as a particular group of society with a demarcated purpose, functions organization and means in pursuit of its agenda. It is though, a broad concept that is hard to outline. The debate continues about what civil society means and this spills over into its relationship with the state and market.
The role of civil society and its institutions has become very important in the present context as many socio-economic areas that hitherto belonged to the state are opening up to non-state sectors. Keeping pace with the neo-liberal and new-right perspectives, the globalization debate has once again raised the vociferous chant of rolling back the state, which is being projected as a facilitator and coordinator of the private and non-government sector.
Many new developments have given rise to different types of civil society associations that are beginning to influence policy decisions. These include a fundamental change in the state’s commitment to the welfare, reduction of social security provisions, the disenchantment of people with government policies, global accent on state minimalism, the role of multiple actors in governance, success of voluntary initiatives and corporate ventures, etc. as a result, the civic sector or civil society sector is emerging as a viable proposition to supplement or refine the functions of the state and market.
These civil society actors have come to be known as civil society organizations or the institutions of civil society. In a more contemporary term, they could be described as a country’s ‘social capital ( broadly connoting community awareness, citizens’ involvement and action on pertinent policy issues through civic networks ). The vocabulary of politics is today inundated with terms such as “civic institutions, ‘social movements’, ‘non-governmental organisations’, ‘nonprofit organizations’, “third party sector’, ‘private voluntary organisations’, ‘independent advocacy groups, so much so that the real meaning of civil society and its institutions appears to have been forfeited to some extent.
Check out these notes on Industrial Policy And Public Administration.