Evaluation and the Policy-Making Process

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EVALUATION AND THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS
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Question 1
Public policy refers to the plans, funding priorities, causes of actions, laws and regulatory
measures on a given topic. The policy is implemented and formulated for the benefit of the
general public. There are various models that tend to assist in the understanding of the
characteristics f the social phenomenon in question. A policy model can also be described as a
plan by the government, a business or a political party to determine and influence the decisions
to be made (Birkland, 2015). The models simply address how policy is made. The two most
common models are; the rational model and the incremental model.
The rational model prescribes the procedures for decision making which ensures that the best
choice is made aiming to achieve the most efficient policy goals. The model is prescriptive I that
it ascertains that if the decision makers do something, the will definitely finish with the most
efficient goal as aimed (Gerston, 2014). In the rational model, the needs are first assessed after
which the objectives are set and the planning process begins. With the plan in hand, the inputs
are then put in place for the program process and the estimated outputs are achieved. Finally, the
outcome is assessed. For the rational model, the evaluation is done by comparing the objectives
set with the put comes achieved.
Unlike the rational model, the incremental model is not linear. In other words, there is a
possibility of changes in the policy even after it is set. The change may take place at any stage of
the policy-making process even after evaluation hence the name incremental. The decisions
made take place mostly between the strategic analysis phase whereby the informed and
thoughtful choice of intervention is based on analysis and the phase whereby analysis is not
complete. In this model, the policies are limited to a small number of alternatives. Contrary to

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the rational model, the policy processes are not about maximizing rationality but rather the
processes are about securing agreement.
Evidence makes a better policy. This statement is supported by the fact that exposing a policy-
making process to a wide range of concepts and experiences ensures the best decision is made.
The two policies models require research in the policy process. The process entails identifying
the underlying problem, formulating the policy, implementing the best alternative and finally
making an evaluation. During the policy-making process, research is conducted on the problem,
the most viable and available solution and the outcome (Holmes, and Clark, 2008). Evaluation
research is needed when analyzing the achieved output and comparing them with the objectives.
Since has aided in the social problem solving during the policy process. It has been used to
assess the social demands, asses the required input, make the decisions and initiate the process
and finally asses the outputs achieved. The policy makers aim at serving the society. Therefore
they will formulate the best alternatives and implement them. In other words, the policy process
aims at the best interest of society.
However, there is certain criticism on the use of science to solve problems in society. First,
decisions made to favour the majority oppress the minority. Decisions made do not always
favour everyone in the society and therefore there is a small group of people that face oppression
after implementation of a decision. Secondly, the magnitude of the social problems tends to be
overwhelming to the policymakers. This makes them unable to solve the prevailing problems.
Question 2
Stakeholders tend to play a major role in the policy and evaluation process. Effective stakeholder
engagement in the policy process and evaluation plays a primary role in development of the