Public Policy Formulation - Process, Stages and Implementation

This article discusses the process of formulation of a policy in the public domain. It covers the stages of identification of the issue, setting an agenda, formulation of a policy, adoption of a policy, and implementation of a policy.

Running Head: PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION
PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION
Introduction
This paper aims to look at the process of formulation of a policy in the public domain.
The political scientists aim to study the emergence of any kind of problem and develop a
structure to outnumber the problems that may arise. This involves the following stages as:
 Identification of the Issue: This is the stage where the policy makers attend a problem
and seek a government a government action for a problem.
 Setting an agenda: It is based on this situation that a problem is given a status of
seriousness and importance.
 Formulation of a policy: In this situation, proposals are taken in to develop a solution
for the problem that has been identified.
 Adoption of a policy: Efforts to obtain support for a chosen proposal to turn it into a
policy for the government.
 Implementation of a policy: The policy instruction is aimed for the betterment of the
citizens as well as the local and the state government though public events and federal
bureaucracy (Theodoulou & Cahn, 1995).
Discussion
Identification of the Issue: The issue usually pertains to a social problems or obstacles
that is retained in the society and identified from a list of all these issues faced by the public,
commonly known as the Issue Agenda. In these situations, the governmental and non-
governmental actors come into play as they help in deciphering the future actions that can be
taken into consideration. This requires setting up an agenda, which are primarily divided into
two categories — Systemic agenda and Institutional agenda (Theodoulou & Cahn, 1995).
Setting up an agenda: There are two kinds of agenda — Normal and Institutional.
Both of these agendas vary, as the latter is narrower in scope than the systemic agenda.

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Besides, the priorities of these two also does not comprehend. When an issue is considered to
be backed by bureaucracy, there is a fair chance for it to move to the agenda. The process of
agenda setting is not only complex but also multi-faceted.
Formulation and Adoption of a policy: The formulation of a policy, accounts for
creation of a supportable and relevant action that deals with the issue with or without
resulting into the adoption of a proposal. There are various levels and ranks of officials like
the president, the advisors, the legislators, the executives and others involved in the policy
formulation. It consists of two steps — making a general decision, if anything could be done
or not, to address the problem; and second, a policy has to be drafted to take proper measures
to meet out the issues with specified objectives (Theodoulou & Cahn, 1995).
Implementation of a policy: After the decision is made, the crucial point of
implementation or enforcement of the policy comes up. In most of the situations, a policy is
regarded as a government decision to do something that is seen by the ‘general public’.
However, in reality, many factors like the judiciary, resistances and abandonment by the
public may occur. Social, economic and technological factors play an important role besides
the target groups that are involved in the same. Implementation of the policies can be of two
types — programmed, adaptive and premeditated non-implementation (Theodoulou & Cahn,
1995). Hence, implementation can be studied as the bureaucratization of the policies.
Conclusion
Hence, policy formulation and implementation should be based on the context of the
issue and essentially depend on development of a rational relationship besides implementing
incrementalism. Budget, struggles and accommodation shall also be considered in these
scenarios to develop an effective structure of policy making.

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References
Theodoulou, S. Z., & Cahn, M. A. (1995). Public policy: The essential readings (p. 1).
Englewood Cliffs^ eN. JNJ: Prentice Hall.