This book is a practical theory approach to policy and planning. It addresses the distinctive features of practical theory—problems, knowledge and principles. It is also provides a comprehensive outline of each stage of the policy and planning process and guidelines as to what needs to be done. The approach to policy and planning presented in this book focuses on an ethical process and foundational methodology for planning and policy work—not on how to do the necessary research at each stage. It is assumed that practitioners have or have access to the skills necessary, and the handbook provides a guide as to which approach is appropriate at which point. The conceptual mind mapping section is included because it is the only tool I know with which to break out of habitual patterns of thinking.
The first section provides an overview of the perspective of policy used and presents a comprehensive approach to the development and implementation of policy. It concludes with an approach to monitoring the implementation of policy, which I describe as performance management. To be clear, I think the term “performance management” has become applied to individuals rather than to the process of policy implementation, and I want to bring it back to the macro application.
The second section addresses the policy model in more depth and, using a critical theory approach based on Habermas, provides the philosophical foundation for the approach to policy outlined in the first section. The final section addresses the bureaucratic policy context and concludes with a detailed discussion of the ethical expectations for a public servant.
The first section provides an overview of the perspective of policy used and presents a comprehensive approach to the development and implementation of policy. It concludes with an approach to monitoring the implementation of policy, which I describe as performance management. To be clear, I think the term “performance management” has become applied to individuals rather than to the process of policy implementation, and I want to bring it back to the macro application.
The second section addresses the policy model in more depth and, using a critical theory approach based on Habermas, provides the philosophical foundation for the approach to policy outlined in the first section. The final section addresses the bureaucratic policy context and concludes with a detailed discussion of the ethical expectations for a public servant.
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