The Rational Model of Policy Decision Making - 2827 Words

Selected Essays by Lefoko O. Molebatsi (2001) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Public Policy and Policy Analysis: The Rational Model Question: The rational model of public policy making, though heavily criticized, is the most widely used and or talked about model. Discuss why. By Lefoko O. Molebatsi (University of Botswana) Instructor: Prof G. S Maipose 2001 1 Selected Essays by Lefoko O. Molebatsi (2001) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Introduction According to Dunn (1994:330), rationality is a self conscious process of using explicit reasoned arguments to make and†¦show more content†¦It is not enough to know and weight the values of some groups and not 3 Selected Essays by Lefoko O. Molebatsi (2001) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------others. There must be a complete understanding of societal values. Rational policy-making also requires information about alternative policies, the predictive capacity to foresee accurately the consequences of alternative policies, and the intelligence to calculate correctly the ratio of costs to benefits. Finally, rational policy-making requires a decision-making system that facilitates rationality in policy formation. According to Thomas R. Dye (1998), this model of maximum social gain is often used to think about the optimal size of government programs. Ideally government or business budgets should increase until maximum net gain is achieved, and then no more should be spent7. The model of maximum social gain is applied to public and business policymaking in benefit cost analysis. The first applications were developed in the 1930s by the US corps of engineers in programs for dams and river basin development. Today it is applied to virtually all government policies and programs. It is the principal analytic framework used to evaluate management spending decisions8. However, there are many barriers to rational decision-making. In fact, there are so manyShow MoreRelatedThe Rational Model of Policy Decision Making2813 Words   |  12 PagesSelected Essays by Lefoko O. Molebatsi (2001) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Public Policy and Policy Analysis: The Rational Model Question: The rational model of public policy making, though heavily criticized, is the most widely used and or talked about model. Discuss why. By Lefoko O. Molebatsi (University of Botswana) Instructor: Prof G. S Maipose 2001 1 Selected Essays by Lefoko O. Molebatsi (2001) -------------Read MoreDecision Making Of A Public Policy929 Words   |  4 PagesDecision-making in Public Policy has evolved into two camps: the camp that favors decision-making based more on techniques derived from mathematics, economics, and management science; and the camp that favors decision-making based more on politics. The former is often referred to as ideal decision-making, while the latter is referred to as real decision-making. Decision-making in management science is taking into account suppositions that complex issues can be broken down into littler parts thatRead MoreThe Simulation Exercise On Foreign Policy Essay1250 Words   |  5 Pageshow to make decisions in the U.S foreign policy. The members of the cabinet are instructed by the president to use one model in their decision making process. The secretaries follow a Bureaucratic Politics model, each Cabinet member instructed to make a particular decision based on his /her organizational agendas. 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In the years preceding the war, strategic vulnerability, was no longer as much of an issue, as the two countries were now similar in militaryRead MoreModels of Public Policy1550 Words   |  7 PagesMODELS FOR POLICY ANALYSIS Uses of Models. The models we shall use in studying policy are conceptual models. Simplify and clarify our thinking about politics and public policy Identify important aspects of policy problems Suggest explanations for public policy and predict its consequences Selected Policy Models. INSTITUTIONALISM: POLICY AS INSTITUTIONAL OUTPUT Government institutions have long been a central focus of political science. Public policy is authoritatively determined, implemented, andRead MoreDecision Making : The Rational Planning Model969 Words   |  4 PagesThe process of decision-making, and the models used during this process, has long been a focus in the field of Urban Planning. Part of this focus has been a discussion regarding which decision-making model is best suited for this profession. One often employed but highly controversial model for decision-making found in this field is the rational planning model. This model, which was first adopted by planners in the 1950’s and 1960’s, focuses on addressing the problems of cities and their inhabitantsRead MoreInstitutional Model Of An Organization Essay1612 Words   |  7 Pages1. Institutional Model According to Hanh, this is the traditional, classical approach. On a state level, the focus is on the structures, organization, duties and functions of governmental institutions. Policies are sometimes described, but never evaluated (unknown). This model is applied through the use of organization charts and is most times uninteresting to audiences. Organization charts have the advantage of addressing basic questions that anyone who wishes to be politically influential needs