Policy Capacity Is Necessary but Not Sufficient; Comment on “Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity”

Gen, Sheldon; Wright, Amy Conley

doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.145

Policy Capacity Is Necessary but Not Sufficient; Comment on “Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors

Sheldon Gen ¹
Amy Conley Wright ²

¹ School of Public Affairs & Civic Engagement, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA

² School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

10.15171/ijhpm.2015.145

Abstract

Policy capacity focuses on the managerial and organizational abilities to inform policy decisions with sound research and analysis, and facilitate policy implementation with operational efficiency. It stems from a view of the policy process that is rational and positivistic, in which optimal policy choices can be identified, selected, and implemented with objectivity. By itself, however, policy capacity neglects the political aspects of policy-making that can dominate the process, even in health policies. These technical capabilities are certainly needed to advance reforms in health policies, but they are not sufficient. Instead, they must be complemented with public engagement and policy advocacy to ensure support from the public that policies are meant to serve.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Health Policy Analysis

References

Tiernan A. Building capacity for policy implementation. In: Wanna J, ed. Organizational Change and Project Management. Canberra: Australian National University E Press; 2007:113-120.

Bakvis H. Rebuilding policy capacity in the era of the fiscal dividend: a report from Canada. Governance: An International Journal of Policy and Administration. 2000;13(1):71-103. doi:10.1111/0952-1895.00124

Anderson G. The new focus on the policy capacity of the federal government. Can Public Adm. 1996;39(4):469-488. doi:10.1111/j.1754-7121.1996.tb00146.x

Forest PG, Denis JL, Brown LD, Helms D. Health reform requires policy capacity. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4(5):265-266. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.85

Radin B. Beyond Machiavelli: Policy Analysis Reaches Midlife. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press; 2013.

Parsons W. Not just steering but weaving: relevant knowledge and the craft of building capacity and coherence. Aust J Public Adm. 2004;63(1):43-57. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.2004.00358.x

Wilson W. The study of administration. Polit Sci Q. 1887;2(2):197-222. doi:10.2307/2139277

Sebelius K. Implementing the Affordable Care Act: a historic opportunity for public administrators. Public Adm Rev. 2013;73(S1):S13-S14. doi:10.1111/puar.12120

Haeder S, Weimer D. You can’t make me do it: state implementation of insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. Public Adm Rev. 2013;73(S1):S34-S47. doi:10.1111/puar.12065

Assistant Secretary/Public Affairs. The Affordable Care Act is working. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/factsheets/2014/10/affordable-care-act-is-working.html. Accessed July 31, 2015.

Bozeman B, Landsbergen D. Truth and credibility in sincere policy analysis: alternative approaches for the production of policy-relevant knowledge. Eval Rev. 1989;13(4):355-379. doi:10.1177/0193841x8901300402

Shulock N. The paradox of policy analysis: If it is not used, why do we produce so much of it? J Policy Anal Manage. 1999;18(2):226-244.

Cornwall A. Unpacking ‘participation’: models, meanings and practices. Community Dev J. 2008;43(3):269-283. doi:10.1093/cdj/bsn010

Frederickson HG. The recovery of civism in public administration. Public Adm Rev. 1982; 42(6):501-507. doi:10.2307/976119

Nalbandian J. Facilitating community, enabling democracy: new roles for local government managers. Public Adm Rev. 1999;59(3):187-197. doi:10.2307/3109948

Denhardt R.B., Denhardt J.V. The new public service: Serving rather than steering. Public Adm Rev. 2000;60(6):549-559. doi:10.1111/0033-3352.00117

Bryson JM, Anderson SR. Applying large-group interaction methods in the planning and implementation of major change efforts. Public Adm Rev. 2000;60(2):143-153. doi:10.1111/0033-3352.00073

Smith GE, Huntsman CA. Reframing the metaphor of citizen government relationship: a value-centered perspective. Public Adm Rev. 1997;57(4):309-318. doi:10.2307/977312

Gallagher DR, Jackson SE. Promoting community involvement at brownfields sites in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. J Environ Plan Manag. 2008;51(5):615-630. doi:10.1080/09640560802210971

Koenig HO. Empowerment in local government administration: the case of Elgin, Illinois. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal. 2005;10(1):1-10.

Majone G. Evidence, Argument and Persuasion in the Policy Process. New Haven: Yale University Press; 1992.

Gen S, Wright AC. Policy advocacy organizations: a framework linking theory and practice. Journal of Policy Practice 2013;12:163-193. doi:10.1080/15588742.2013.795477