These steps are: define the problem; determine evaluation criteria; identify alternative policies; evaluate these alternative policies; select the preferred policy; and implement it. These stages are used to organize policymaking in a simple way by doing the following: identifying the aims of the policymaker; identifying the policies needed to achieve those aims; selecting a policy measure; ensuring that the selection is legitimized by the population or its legislature; identifying the necessary resources; implementing and then evaluating the policy. Walt et all, suggest ways in which policy analysis would be improved by more systematic approaches and have suggested using theoretical frameworks to help researchers in focusing their efforts to analyzing the policymaking process.
Some of them are the stages heuristic, policy triangle framework and policy triangle framework. They say that these will assist policy-makers in evaluating and planning current and future policies. Policy analysis can have different aspects and some of these are outlined by Collins as: the analysis of policy process, which focuses on policy formulation; and analysis of policy content, which focuses on the substance of policy and can be analytical, descriptive or prescriptive. Buse et all, summarize the analysis of policy as being prospective used to inform the formulation of a policy or to predict the outcome of this policy if introduced. They also point out that analysis for policy assesses the prospects and manages the politics of policy change in a way that meets their goals and if not, may lead to this policy being abandoned. According to Patton, Sawicki, and Clark, descriptive analysis is used for existing policies that have been used in the past bringing reasons for the success and/or failure and insight is provided on how to approach the future using the existing data.
Prescriptive policy analysis is the analysis of new policy and it suggests a number of different possible alternatives for a particular situation. It quantifies the effect of future decisions so as to advise on possible outcomes before the decisions are actually made. Recommendations on what actions should be taken are made. Predictive analysis of policy is also mentioned as that which uses existing data to determine the probable future outcome of a particular policy. Since this is based on probabilities, the predicted outcomes are not always 100% certain.
Different sets of data are used in the techniques usdefineed in policy analysis. The use of longitudinal data is said to deliver robust results and is often reasonably easy to access. Randomized experiments are also advocated for the analysis of this data when available, in order to assess the impact of policy changes on outcomes that are routinely monitored by routine information systems. The aims of policy analysis are outlined in Kenya by the Parliamentary Service Commission, as: Ensuring that policies are responding to the real needs of the community, which in turn, can lead to better outcomes for the population in the long-term. Highlighting the urgency of an issue or problem, which requires immediate attention as this is important in securing funding and resources for the policy to be developed, implemented and maintained. Enabling information sharing amongst other members of the public sector, in regard to what policies have or haven’t worked.
