IMPLEMENTATION ANALYSIS
The full policy process is often described by the following steps:
1) problem definition
2) alternative generation
3) analysis of alternatives
4) policy adoption
5) policy implementation
6) policy evaluation
While this course has focused on the first three steps, the last three steps are equally important. A thorough policy analysis will include some consideration of policy implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
The policy analyst can sketch out an implementation plan for the most highly ranked alternative(s) that considers:
1) relevant actors and their interests
2) required resources and who might provide them
3) facilitators and barriers likely to be encountered
4) reasonable time frame
Implementation analysis might involve writing a "best-case" scenario and a "worst-case" scenario for each policy alternative, as well as the "most likely" outcome. The idea is to think systematically through the implementation process, identify potential problems, and develop actions that can be taken to either avert catastrophes or reduce losses. POLICY MONITORING
Policy maintenance refers to keeping the policy or program going after it is adopted. Policy monitoring refers to the process of detecting how the policy is doing.
To monitor a policy, some data about the policy must be obtained. A good implementation plan will suggest some ways in which ongoing data about the policy can be generated in the regular course of policy maintenance, for example, from records, documents, feedback from program clients, diary entries of staff, ratings by peers, tests, observation, and physical evidence. POLICY EVALUATION
Policy evaluation is the last step in the policy process. When policies fail to have the intended effect, it is usually due to one of two types of failure: theory failure, or program failure.
A theory failure