ASSIGNMENT : POLICY ANALYSIS
Using the rational model described in the textbook by Kraft and Furlong (“Steps in the Policy Analysis Process” on pages 116-122) analyze the policy topic selected for this term for your hypothetical client.
TOPIC: “Supply Chain Disruption in the United States. Covid-19 has severely disrupted the supply chain, causing a host of secondary effects. The United States Department of Commerce has hired you as a consultant to study the matter and provide recommendations.”
III. Write about a 6000-word analysis (approximately 15-20 pages excluding references, double-spaced) in which
A) The rational analysis or decision-making model as described by Kraft and Furlong , not the incremental model, is briefly summarized (about one – two pages). Use this section as an executive summary—i.e., if step #1 is to define the problem, how are you defining the problem here for your policy topic?
B) The policy issue is briefly summarized (about 1.5 – 2 pages), including at least one of the five contexts of public policy as described by Kraft and Furlong ( “Contexts of Public Policy”). You may wish to focus on one particular aspect of a policy. You must provide the exact citations as appropriate using APA style format.
C) Reason(s) for government involvement are clearly delineated according to Kraft and Furlong (“The Reasons for Government Involvement”).
D) Appropriate instrument for the model and issue is justified according to Kraft and Furlong (“Instruments of Public Policy” e.g. regulation, govt management).
E) Policy typology is identified and justified according to Kraft and Furlong (“Policy Typologies”, e.g. distributive).
F) At least one appropriate theoretical model is articulated and applied according to Kraft and Furlong’s “Theories of Politics and Public Policy” (e.g. elite, group, institutional, etc.) ; you may NOT use the rational comprehensive decision-making model, the incremental decision-making model or the policy process model.
G) Construct at least three policy alternatives; “do nothing” or “no action analysis” are NOT acceptable alternatives. Provide the key strengths and weakness of each policy alternative .
H) Develop and justify at least three of the more appropriate of the eight evaluative criteria in Kraft and Furlong; “Evaluative Criteria for Judging Policy Proposals” (e.g. effectiveness).
I) Assess each of the alternatives identified in section
G) using each of the criteria in
I); you may use compare or contrast, SWOT, or MAUT method, as long as you apply each evaluative criteria to each alternative. J) Justify the one alternative you would select
K) Identification and justification of which methods of policy analysis are most appropriate to use of the eight advanced by Kraft and Furlong; “Using the Methods of Policy Analysis” (e.g., economic approaches, forecasting, impact assessment, political feasibility analysis, etc).
L) conclusion/summary
References must include scholarly journals.
