Syllabus

Course Title / POLICY ANALYSIS
Course Code
Course Status / Mandatory, II semester, Center for Social Science (CSS), Gender Study master program
Course Duration / One semester, (15 week-semester), twice a week for 2 hours
ECTS / 5 credits:among them Contact hours: 60, independent hours: 190
Course Instructor / Assistant Prof. Nana Macharashvili, department of Political Science, Faculty of Social and Political Studies, TSU.
Course Objectives / This course seeks to provide students with both a conceptual framework and practical experience in analyzing public policies
The secondary aim of this course is to help students in developing as a junior policy analysts
Introductory course in Public Policy analysis is a one-semester obligatory course designed for the student who has no theoretical and practical knowledge for and about policy-making process. This course seeks to provide students with both a conceptual framework and practical experience in analyzing public policies. The course covers a variety of topics related both to the substance and methods of policy analysis. But on this stage it’s only the introductory course, developing your awareness about and for the Public Policy Analysis, but no more. The Advanced Public Policy Analysis is taught on M.A. Level. This one may be seen as a prerequisite for the further learning. A secondary goal of this course is to understand real-world policymaking and how it accommodates policy analysis.
The course is designed to help you to develop the skills required to define and critically analyze policy issues and problems, choose the relevant methods and techniques for policy analysis, evaluate alternative policy solutions and assess the means and costs of implementation. It costs to mention that you are doing all of your practice activities on the base of Georgian contemporary reality.
This course surveys the major questions, concepts, and theoretical approaches surrounding the study of policy analysis. These elements are grouped within four broad categories: the policy process, policymaking and the prospective and retrospective analysis, based on policy input and policy impact as Ex Ante and ex post analytical procedures of decision-making process. The aim of this course is to help you develop as a junior policy analyst, preparing for further development. This course will be valuable for people pursuing a career in public service or who will interact with public agencies in the future.
Course Prerequisites / N/A
Course Format / This graduate course will integrate lectures, seminars, discussions and presentations together with short-writing and reading assignments, library and online search, in-class and out-class activities, final case study analysis and Exam. Reading and discussions are the principal activities of this course along with the final case study analysis through which attainment of course objectives will be measured. Students will also prepare 10 written products half based on empirical policy research and half on data researches. Make into consideration that the short-writing assignments no long then 300-500 words each of them will be related to the topic of the case study analysis and will survey as step by step process of improving your final writing task. Analyzing material bases on contemporary Georgian policymaking process. Remember that students will be expected to be full participants in shaping the character of the seminar, which requires all students to come to class prepared to discuss readings for each session. Don’t forget, you must do all of the readings, preferably before the class in which they are assigned.
At the very beginning of the course, on our introductory sessions you choose the topic of problematic situation for your final case-study analysis, on which you should work during all semester intensively. Remember even on lectures you will be asked and ought to make some activities on reading and writing assignments. Each of your meeting will be began with the discussions your reading or writing assignments, you will have to ask quizzes purposed on the one hand to check your comprehension of previous material and on the other hand to raise your awareness of learning. So, even on lectures you are actively involved in learning process and these meeting are only formally named “lectures”.
Course Content
COURSE SCHEDULE
STRUCTURE / TOPICS
WEEK BY WEEK / READING AND WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
INTRODUCTORY
SESSIONS / INTRODUCTION TO POLICY ANALYSIS
Warming, introduction to the course syllabus, distinguishes between the terms policy, politics and polity, definitions of policy analysis, history of the development of policy analysis. / Mandatory Literature:
1.Patton, Carl V. And David Sawicki, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning - Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall, 1993– Practical principles for Beginning policy analysts (8-19 pp.)
2. Shafritz J.M. Hyde A.C. (forth ed) Classics of Public Administration (translation on Russian), Dror – Policy Analysts – new profession (pp-332-341)
3. Nana Machashvili (2006). Policy Analysis. Textbook. Tbilisi: CSS.pp. 4-19.
INTRODUCTION TO THE PROCESS OF POLICY INQUIRY
specifics of policy inquiry, limitations of policy analysis,the most controversial questions in PA, classical rational problem-solving process, historical background for emergence the applied science
THREE CASES OF POLICY ANALYSIS (Dunn. public policy analysis pp. 8-10) / Mandatory Literature:
1. Dunn W. 2004 Public policy Analysis an Introduction (Chapter1 pp-1-25)
2. Patton, Carl V. And David Sawicki, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning - 1993– The analytic process (pp-46-69)
3. Bardach E. A Practical guide for policy analysis: The Eightfold path to more effective problem solving (introduction)
4. Nana Machashvili (2006). Policy Analysis. Textbook. Tbilisi: CSS. pp. 43-54
CONTEXT OF POLICY ANALYSIS / POLICY-MAKING PROCESS
context of policy analysis and introduce with the policy-making process, The cycle model of policy-making process,
policy making as a complex, cycle process of agenda setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy implementation, policy evaluation, policy adaptation, policy succession, policy termination. New models of Public policymaking. / Mandatory Literature:
1.Dunn W. 2004 Public policy Analysis an Introduction (Chapter2 pp-33-44)
2. Nana Machashvili (2006). Policy Analysis. Textbook. Tbilisi: CSS. pp. 19-43
3. Birkland Thomas A. An Introduction To The Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, And Models Of Public Policy Making,.
H/W: Short Writing assignment:
1. Analyze 3 issues of chosen problem situations: on what stage of policy process they hold.
2. Identify similarities and differences between the most recent policymaking models
THE MODELS OF POLICY CHANGE comprehensive economic rationality, bounded rationality, incrementalism, mixed scanning. differences between the different models of policy change / Mandatory Literature:
1.Charles E. Lindblom “The Science of Muddling Through” Public Administration Review, Spring, 1959
2. Dunn W. 2004 Public policy Analysis an Introduction (Chapter2 pp-44-55)
3.. Sarani p., gadawyvetilebis miReba, politikuri teqnilogiebi. 2001. #1. gv. 50-60.
4. Nana Machashvili (2006). Policy Analysis. Textbook. Tbilisi: CSS.
5. А.А. Дегтярев, Принятие политических решений: учебное пособие. – М.2004gv. 205-300.
6.. Anthony Downs, Up and Down With Ecology, The "Issue-Attention Cycle",
H/W: Short Writing assignment:
3. Identifyadvantages and disadvantagesof comprehensive rationality and incrementalism
4. Analyze one problem by using issue attention cycle.
POLICY STAKEHOLDERS / INTRODUCTION TO THE MAIN POLICY ACTORS policy system and the main elements of this system, the state and citizen stakeholders,
POLICY ANALISTS
Policy Analysts and their role in policy-making process, relationship between analysts and policymakers: Client and public-oriented policy analysis,
ethics of policy analysts and consultants, Limits raised in implementing analyst’s recommendations. Weimer and Vining’s figure illustrated alternative responses to value conflicts of analysts / Mandatory Literature:
1.Dunn W. 2004 Public policy Analysis an Introduction (Chapter2 Case 2 – Are policy Analysts Technocrats? pp - 64-71), Chapter7 - Ethics and Values in policy Analysis pp-345-356)
2. Patton, Carl V. And David Sawicki, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning - 1993– Ethical Considerations (pp-30-46.)
3. .Shafritz J.M. Hyde A.C (forth ed) Classics of Public Administration (translation on Russian), Meltzer – Seven sins of policy analysts (pp-603-610)
4. Nana Machashvili (2006). Policy Analysis. Textbook. Tbilisi: CSS. pp.85-86
H/W: writing assignment:
5. Is there a possibility to path the principle – Do well +Do good?
BEURACRACY
bureaucracy as the one of the main policy stakeholders, possibilities for controlling bureaucracy / Mandatory Literature:
1.Meier K. (1992) Politics and the Bureaucracy - Controlling Bureaucracy: ethics and participation (pp- 193-224)
2.Simon H. (1976) Administrative Behavior (Chapter XII On the concept of organization goal pp-257-278))
3Peters B.G. (1984)The politics of Bureaucracy (Chapter 6. pp. -174-211 )
4. Shafritz J.M. Hyde A.C(forth ed) Classics of Public Administration translation on Russian), Mosher – democracy and public administration (pp-552-571)
H/W: writing assignment:
6. Use Advocacy-coalition Framework foranalyzing one problem.
MIDTERM EXAM
PROBLEM STRUCTURING / ALTERNATIVE MODELS OF POLICY ANALYSIS
Models of policy analysis informational-procedural model of PA produced by W. Dunn, PA in six steps introduced by Patton & Sawicki , Bardach’s eightfold model of PA.
CROSS-CUTTING METHODS
methods of data gathering and analysis
METHODS OF PROBLEM STRUCTURING
problem structuring in policy analysis, subjective, systemic, and interdependent nature of policy problems, contrast between problem situations and problems, well-structured, moderately structured, and ill-structured problems, different types of policy models, strengths and limitations of different methods of problem structuring / Mandatory Literature:
1.Patton, Carl V. And David Sawicki, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning - Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall, 1993 – chapter 3 Crosscutting methods ( pp-74-147); chapter 4 – Verifying, Defining and Detailing the problem pp-147-186)
2. Bardach E. A Practical guide for policy analysis: The Eightfold path to more effective problem solving (pp- 69-125, 1-16)
3. Dunn W. 2004 Public policy Analysis an Introduction (Chapter3 pp-71-120).
4. Nana Machashvili (2006). Policy Analysis. Textbook. Tbilisi: CSS. pp. 55-85
5. A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving by Eugene Bardach I part. 1-70. , II part. 70-90.
  • DRILL
three cases of problem structuring, methods of problem structuring by the practice /
  • Case-Study situaciuri savarjiSoebis krebuli politikis analizis SemswavlelTaTvis. Tbilisi. 2002.
H/W: Short Writing assignment:
7. Define structure and prove actuality of the problematic situation in contemporary Georgia on which you ought to write the final case study analysis.
FORECASTING / ALTERNATIVES GETHERING
different methods of gathering alternatives, projections, predictions, and conjectures
METHODS OF FEORECASTIN
potential, plausible, and normative futures,
extrapolative, theoretical, and judgmental forecasting methods and techniques
COST-BENEFIT AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS
the steps in conducting benefic-cost and cost-effectiveness analysis,
SCENARIO WRITING / Mandatory Literature:
1. Dunn W. 2004 Public policy Analysis an Introduction (Chapter4 pp-129-200)
2.Bardach E. A Practical guide for policy analysis: The Eightfold path to more effective problem solving (pp- 16-53)
3. Patton, Carl V. And David Sawicki, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning - Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall, 1993 chapter 5 – Establishing evaluation criteria – (186-227), Identifying Alternatives (227-257), chapter 6- Evaluating Alternative policies (257-332)
5. А.С.Ахременко, Сценариотехникаваналитическомобеспечениипроцедурыпринятияполитическихрешений.
6. politikuri prognozireba (masalebi leqciisaTvis), politikuri teqnologiebi, 2001, # 2. gv.52-75
  • DRILL
analyze a case in policy forecasting
methods of policy forecasting by the practice /
  • Case-Study situaciuri savarjiSoebis krebuli politikis analizis SemswavlelTaTvis. Tbilisi. 2002.
H/W:: writing assignment:
8. Do the first draft of scenario-writing for your alternatives
RECOMMENDATION / CRITERIAS FOR RECCOMENDATION
criteria employed to make reasoned choices among alternatives, Pareto criterion, the Kaldor-Hicks criterion, and Rawls criterion, comprehensive rationality and disjointed incrementalism as models of choice
METHODS OF RECCOMENDATION
POLICY PAPERS
main elements of policy issue papers and policy memos / Mandatory Literature:
1. Dunn W. 2004 Public policy Analysis an Introduction (Chapter5 pp-215-271)
2 Patton, Carl V. And David Sawicki, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning - Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall, 1993 Chapter 7 - Displaying Alternatives and Distinguishing among Them (332-362).
3. Bardach E. A Practical guide for policy analysis: The Eightfold path to more effective problem solving (pp-53-69)
  • DRILL
a case in policy recommendation, methods of policy recommendation by the practice, samples of policy issue papers /
  • Case-Study situaciuri savarjiSoebis krebuli politikis analizis SemswavlelTaTvis. Tbilisi. 2002.
H/W:: writing assignment:
9. Choose the appropriate criteria’s for the presented alternatives and make the choice.
MONIITORING AND EVALUATION / METHODS OF MONITORING
METHODS FOR EVALUATION
policy outcomes, impacts, processes, and inputs, social systems accounting, social experimentation, social auditing, criteria for evaluating policy performance, decision-theoretic evaluation and metaevaluation, values, ethics and metaethics / Mandatory Literature:
1. Dunn W. 2004 Public policy Analysis an Introduction (Chapter6-7 pp-276-335, 356-370, Chapter 9 -430 -450, Appendixes pp- 451-497)
2.Patton, Carl V. And David Sawicki, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning - Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall, 1993 – chapter 9 – monitoring and Evaluating implemented policies pp-362-398)
3.Juliet Musso, Robert Biller and Robert Myrtle. “Tradecraft: Professional Writing as Problem Solving”// Journal of Policy Analysis and Management – Vol.19, № 4, 2000. – pp.635-646
4.Gutbord, H. Guidance for the successful relationship PP. – 127-153. (On Georgian). .
H/W:: writing assignment:
10. Analyze one case of implementation failure and identify factors resulted on this
  • DRILL
analyze a cases in policy monitoring and evaluation, methods of policy forecasting by the practice., Cases in policy monitoring and evaluation /
  • Case-Study situaciuri savarjiSoebis krebuli politikis analizis SemswavlelTaTvis. Tbilisi. 2002.

DEADLINE AND PRESENTATION
EXAM
Assessment Criteria / The five major course requirements (aside from class attendance) are reading assignments (Note: to make into account that most of the students do not prepare reading assignments during the semester, it needs to be combined in the grade system to encourage their motivation in doing reading assignments systematically), writing assignments without final case study analysis, final case study analysis, class participation and final Exam. The weights assigned to these for the final course grade will be follows:
Attendance:
Class participation/presentations:
Writing assignments:
Midterm Exam
Final case study analysis:
Final Exam: / 5 %
10 %
15 %
20 %
10 %
40 %
Mandatory Literature /

1.William N. Dunn. 2004. Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction. 3rd. Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice-Hall.

  1. Patton Carl, Sawicki David S.1993Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning, 2/E
  2. Bardach Eugene. 2005. A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving, 2nd ed..Washington, DC: CQ Press.
  3. Дегтярев А.А, Принятие политических решений: учебное пособие. – М.2004
  4. Anderson,James E. , 2003. Public Policymaking, 5th ed. Houghton Mifflin.
  5. situaciuri savarjiSoebis krebuli politikis analizis SemswavlelTaTvis. Tbilisi. 2002.
  6. Juliet Musso, Robert Biller and Robert Myrtle. “Tradecraft: Professional Writing as Problem Solving”// Journal of Policy Analysis and Management – Vol.19, № 4, 2000. – pp.635-646
  7. Macharashvili, N. (2006). Policy Analysis. Textbook for social science master students. Centewr for Social Science: Tbilisi.

Additional Literature and Other Teaching Materials /
  1. Weimer, David L. and Aidan R. Vining. 1999.Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice.3d edition. Prentice-Hall.
  2. Kingdon, John W. 1995. Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. 2nd edition. HarperCollinsCollege Publishers.
  3. Mazmanian, Daniel A. and Paul A. Sabatier. 1983. Implementation and Public Policy. Scott, Foresman.
  4. Quade, Edward S. Analysis for Public Decisions. 2nd edition. North Holland, 1982
  5. Stokey, Edith and Richard Zeckhauser. 1978.A Primer for Policy Analysis. W.W. Norton.
  6. Шафритц, Дж., Хайд, Р., Классики теории государственного управления. американская школа. (пер. с англиского). M. 2004.
  7. Birkland, Thomas A.1997. After Disaster: Agenda Setting, Public Policy, and Focusing Events.GeorgetownUniversity Press
  8. Wildavsky, A., Speaking Truth to Power. The Art and Craft of Policy Analysis. 11th ed. 2006. Transaction Publishers. New Brunswick (U.S.A.) and London (U.K.)
  9. Stone Deborah,(2002) Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making, rev. ed.

Learning Outcomes / At the end of the course, students
understand real-world policymaking and how it accommodates policy analysis
Are able to define and critically analyze policy issues and problems, choose the relevant methods and techniques for policy analysis, evaluate alternative policy solutions and assess the means and costs of implementation
Have policy paper writing and presentation abilities

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