SOCIAL: THE POLICY CYCLE

 

                The policy cycle is an important process that every policy maker should keep handy.  [It will allow the policy maker to anticipate the events that would occur once he or she has initiated the process.  The policy cycle has 6 steps.  The first step is “Agenda setting.”  This is where the policy maker identifies a problem in which the government need to act.  Problems should be stated in such a way that there is too much or not enough of something so that it may be easily identified by the government agency.  The next step in the process is, “Policy formation.”  In this step, the policy maker sets objectives.  Costs and estimates should be considered for the problem.  Policy makers may select from a list of solutions in which he or she will proceed with.   The third step, “Legitimation,” is the step where policy makers ensure that policy instruments have support.  For example, legislative support or executive approval.  This is an important step as each policy needs to garner enough support to be able to followed through.  Policy that do not have support are bound to be put on the back burner.  “Implementation,” is the process whereby policy are put into effect.  This process calls for someone or a group to take responsibility.  This entity should therefore ensure that is has the resources to effect the policy and that it are implemented as planned.  The next step is, “Evaluation.”  In this step, policy makers are called to assess the success of a policy decision.  They check if it was implemented correctly and if it had the desired effect.  The final step is, “Policy maintenance, succession or termination.”  Through analysis, policy makers are given the opportunity to gauge whether a specific policy that was implemented should be continued.  The policy cycle is very important to policy making.  It ensures that resources are not wasted and that each step of the policy process are carefully looked at.  Without the policy process, there would be no pathway to determine the effectiveness of policy.  Organization is required in any setting as it allows for efficiency of processes.  This efficiency is what the policy process contributes to policy makers.