“Policy Analysis is an applied social science discipline
which uses multiple methods of inquiry and argument
to produce and transform policy relevant information
that may be utilized in political settings to resolve
policy problems”Public Policy Analysis by William N Dunn
Policy Analysis
“Policy Analysis is a Rational Decision
Making Approach to Social and
Economic problems”Policy Analysis for Effective Development
Policy Analysis
“... Any type of analysis that generates and presents
information in such a way as to improve the basis for policy
makers to exercise their judgment… in policy analysis ,
word analysis implies the use of intuition and judgment ,
design and synthesis of new alternatives… some policy
analysis are informal involves nothing more than hard and
careful thinking whereas other require extensive data
gathering and elaborate calculations…”
E S Quade
Policy Analysis
Policy analysis; an Applied Social Science
Discipline
• Policy analysis draws from a variety of social science
discipline
• Policy analyst produce information about three kind of
questions;
• Values
• Facts
• Actions
Policy Analysis
Approaches to Policy Analysis
Approach Primary Question Type of Information
Empirical Does it exist? (facts) Designative
Evaluative Of what worth is it? (values)
Evaluative
Normative What should be done? (action)
Advocative
Policy Analysis in PerspectiveMajor Objectives Client Common Style Time Constraints General
Weakness
Academic social
science research
construct theories for understanding society
Other scholars Rigorous methods for constructing and testing theories, retrospectives
Rarely external time constraints
Often irrelevant to information needs of decision makers
Policy Research
Predict impacts of changes in variables that can be altered by public policy
Actors in policy arena
Application of formal methodology to policy relevant questions
Sometimes deadline pressure
Difficulty in translating findings in to government actions
Classical planning
Defining and achieving the desirable future state of society
Public interest as professionally defined
Established rules and professional norms
Little immediate time pressure because deal with long term future
Wishful thinking in plans when political process ignored
The old PA Efficient execution of programs established by political processes
Public interest as embodied in mandated program
Managerial and legal Time pressure tied to routine decision making
Exclusion of alternatives external to program
Journalism Focusing public attention to societal problems
General public Descriptive Strong deadline pressure
Lack of analytical depth and balance
Policy Analysis
Systematic comparison and evaluation of alternatives available to public actors for serving social problems
Specific person or institution as decision maker
Synthesis of existing research and theory to predict consequences of alternative policies
Strong deadline pressure-completion of analysis is tied to specific decision
Myopia resulting from client orientation and time pressure
Basic Preparation for Policy Analysis
i. Know how to gather and organize information
ii. Putting perceived social problem in context
iii. Need for technical skills
iv. Understanding of political and organizational behavior
Policy Analysis
Ethical Code/ Ethos
• Protection of human rights and dignity
• Analytical integrity
• Misrepresentation of results
• Maintain confidentiality
• Honesty
Policy Analysis
Process Model
• Identification of a problem.
• Formulation of policy proposals by various parties.
• Selection and enactment of policy.
• Implementation.
• Evaluation.
Policy Analysis
“We can make public policymaking easier to
understand by breaking the system into parts
small enough to study. By understanding the
pieces, it is easier to understand the whole”
Jerri Cockrel --- “Public Policymaking in America”
Policy Analysis
Rational Model
1. Verify, define and detail the problem.
2. Establish evaluation criteria.
3. Identify alternative policies.
4. Evaluate and compare alternative policies.
5. Select the best policy among the alternatives considered.
6. Monitor and evaluate the proposed policy.
Policy Analysis
Rational Model
1. Verify, define and detail the problem.
“The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but
it takes a creative mind to spot wrong questions”
Antony Jay --- Management & Machiavelli
Policy Analysis
Rational Model
2. Establish evaluation criteria.
• Efficiency
• Cost
• Net benefit
• Equity
Policy Analysis
• Extent of uncertainty
• Political acceptability
• Administrative ease
• Legal issues
Rational Model
4. Evaluate and compare alternative policies.
• Scenario table
• Objective analysis
Policy Analysis
Rational Model
1. Verify, define and detail the problem.
2. Establish evaluation criteria.
3. Identify alternative policies.
4. Evaluate and compare alternative policies.
5. Select the best policy among the alternatives considered.
6. Monitor and evaluate the proposed policy.
Policy Analysis
Formation of HEC
• On 11th September 2002, the President of Pakistan
promulgated a Higher Education Ordinance
• The aim of HEC was that, it should be a central body that
would facilitate quality assurance of higher education in both
the public and private sectors
• Link funding by the federal government
Functions of HEC
• Evaluation of performance of institution
• Formulate policies, guiding principles and priorities for higher
education institutes
• Prescribe conditions under which educational institutions may be
opened and operated
• Determine the equivalence and recognition of degrees, diplomas
and certificates awarded by institutes with in and outside the
country
• Provide guidelines for the minimum criteria and qualification
for appointment, promotion and salary structure of teachers of
all institutions
• Curriculum revision
• Make and promote national and international linkages
Functions of HEC
Rational Model
1. Verify, define and detail the problem.
• HEC Devolution--- 18th Amendment
• Education
• 4th schedule --- Federal Legislative List
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
4th schedule --- Federal Legislative List--- Part I
• Article 17 : Education as respects Pakistani students in
foreign countries and foreign students in Pakistan.
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
4th schedule --- Federal Legislative List --- Part II
• Article 6 : All regulatory authorities established under a
Federal law.
• Article 7: National planning and national economic
coordination including planning and coordination of
scientific and technological research.
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
4th schedule --- Federal Legislative List --- Part II
• Article 11:Legal, medical and other professions.
• Article 12:Standards in institutions for higher education
and research, scientific and technical institutions.
• Article 13: Inter-provincial matters and co-ordination.
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
Rational Model
1.Verify, define and detail the problem.
• Problem : “Extent of Devolution”
• Stakeholders' Analysis
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
Stakeholders' Analysis
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
Stakeholders Influence Power Base
Students High Coercive Power / Nuisance Value
Teachers High Intellectual Power, Coercive Power
Universities High Students + Teachers
HEC Staff High Intellectual Power, Coercive Power
Politicians Moderate Interest Groups, (Vote Bank)
Donors High Authoritative Power
Rational Model2. Establish Evaluation Criteria
• Cost
• Net benefit
• Efficiency
• Equity
• Administrative Ease
• Legal issues
• Political Acceptability
• Extent of Uncertainty
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
Rational Model
3. Identify Alternative policies
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
Policy Option 1 Policy Option 2 Policy Option 3
Do Not Devolve(Status Quo)
Complete Devolution
Shared Function/Responsibilities
(Federal + Provincial)
HEC Ordinance 2002
Core Functions
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
Evaluation Criteria (Teachers)
Equivalence and recognition of
Degrees
Regulation
Linkages with foreign universities
Standard in institutions for Higher
Education
Funding
Degree Attestation
Curriculum
Evaluation Criteria for Universities
• Standard in institutions for Higher Education
Article 12:Standards in institutions for higher education and research, scientific
and technical institutions.
• Regulation
Article 6 : All regulatory authorities established under a Federal law.
• Linkages with foreign universities
Article 17 : Education as respects Pakistani students in foreign countries and
foreign students in Pakistan.
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
Scenario TablePolicy Option
1
Policy Option
2
Policy Option
3Status quo Completely devolve Share responsibilities
Attributes current status of HEC continues
All functions of HEC goes to the respective province’s Commission for Higher Standard Education
Provinces• Curriculum• Syllabus• Developing linkages• Attestation of degrees
Criteria under which institutions are opened
Federal• Standards of higher education • Equivalence and recognition of degrees• funding• Criteria for appointment, promotion and salary structure of teachers
Evaluation Criteria
Policy Option 1 (Status quo )
Policy Option 2
(Completely devolve)
Policy Option 3 (Share responsibilities)
Cost The current cost remain the same
Cost increases (administrative expenses)
Cost increase but comparatively less than option 2
Net benefit Remain same Low as compared to sharing High
Efficiency Remain same High level of efficiency Moderate level of efficiency
Administrative Ease
Remain same Not easy because entirely new structure need to be developed
Relatively easy to implement
Policy Option 1 (Status quo )
Policy Option 2
(Completely devolve)
Policy Option 3 (Share responsibilities)
Legal Issues Have to made amendment in constitution
None Face some legal issues
Political Acceptability
High level of acceptability
Low level of acceptability
High
Extent of Uncertainty
The policy option is certain
Highest level of uncertainty
Moderate level of uncertainty
Rational Model
5. Select the best policy among the
alternatives considered.
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study
Policy Option 1 Policy Option 2 Policy Option 3
Do Not Devolve(Status Quo)
Complete Devolution
Shared Function/Responsibilities
(Federal + Provincial)
Rational Model
6. Monitor and evaluate the proposed policy.
Formal + Informal
Policy Analysis--- HEC Case Study