Management and Public Policy

Conceptual Overview

Public policy applies in diverse areas such as health, education, the military, police, immigration, and sport and recreation. Changes to, or the consolidation of, public policy may not always involve the promulgation of laws but can come about through the issuing of government policy directives.

There are diverse theories related to public policy and its implementation, particularly decision-making models. Conceptually, the development of public policy will usually involve a process of public discussion and debate, which may require direct citizen participation or may simply be part of a parliamentary or similar political process.

Public policy can be developed quickly. This may be when governments know that their policy decisions will be unpopular with their electorates or when there is a political crisis. Key stakeholders potentially opposed to the policy may mount a public campaign, backed by media support, if the policy direction is at issue. Policies can be developed in more considered ways, but vested interests may be involved. Sometimes governments will raise policy ideas in the public domain to test public reactions in advance of firm decisions.

The popularity of governments' public policy, in democratic polities, can have a considerable impact upon the potential success of electoral campaigns. Governments need to be seen by the polity to be making public policy decisions in ways that are positive, and they may use rhetoric, rather than fact and substance, to promote their policy achievements. Electoral cycles may limit governments' longer-term interest in the impact of public policy.

In practice, some public policy encompasses coercive services, where citizens are compelled to comply [Page 846]with the law. In the areas of tax and licensing, public policy defines certain actions that are required in law and are therefore compulsory. In other areas, becoming a citizen beneficiary of certain public policies is something that may be defined within strict eligibility criteria. Other public services encompassed within public policy may be more open or universal, such as energy and water supply.

Within the vast array of public policies, certain policies can become contradictory because they have incompatible objectives and ideals; this is often referred to as wicked policy. An example of wicked public policy could occur in policy fields where urban development is encouraged but at the same time environmental and sustainability policies may be supported. Public policy is not necessarily always good policy, in that it provides the greatest community benefit. Economic or military policies may have priority over social concerns.

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