Walden University Actionable Public Policy Adoption

Numerous theorists have constructed models and theories to help predict how the public policy process will evolve, given the stakeholders, decision-makers, and policy analysts involved in the decision-making construct (Nowlin, 2011). However, as theories, they may have predictive value but not necessarily definitive value. Whether you are a citizen interacting with different levels of government or a professional working within a governmental agency, it is incumbent upon you to reconcile the different approaches with your practical experiences.

With these thoughts in mind:

Analyze the methods and processes by which policy analysts and decision-makers evaluate and adopt public policies. Review various approaches taken by policy actors in the determination of public policy.

Post a brief description outlining the approaches to policy adoption and execution. Analyze how practical and effective you believe each approach may be based on this week’s assigned readings and from your personal and/or professional experiences in or with government either in the United States or in your home country. Then, explain how the policy approach supports the transformation of a public policy agenda item into an actionable public policy. Provide specific examples based on the country that you have chosen.

Required Readings

Anderson, J. E. (2015). Public policymaking: An introduction (8th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

  • Chapter 4, “Policy Adoption” (pp. 133–160)
  • Chapter 7, “Policy Impact, Evaluation, and Change” (pp. 290–340)

Bardach, E., Patashnik, E. M. (2016). A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path to more effective problem solving (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press.

  • Part I, “The Eightfold Path”
    • “Step Six: Confront the Trade-offs” (pp. 65-71)
    • “Step Seven: Decide!” (pp. 71-72)
    • “Step Eight: Tell Your Story” (pp. 72-82)

Guess, G. M., & Farnham, P. G. (2011). Cases in public policy analysis (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.

  • Chapter 1, “The Policymaking Process: Between Technical Rationality and Politics” (pp. 1–22)