Major Public Policy Models to Know for Organizations and Public Policy

Understanding major public policy models helps us see how decisions are made in organizations. These models, from rational approaches to chaotic systems, reveal the complexities of policy-making and the interplay of various factors that shape outcomes.

1. Rational Model

   • Assumes decision-makers have complete information and can evaluate all alternatives.
   • Focuses on a systematic process of problem identification, solution generation, and evaluation.
   • Emphasizes efficiency and effectiveness in achieving policy goals.
   • Often criticized for being overly idealistic and not accounting for real-world complexities.

2. Incremental Model

   • Suggests that policy changes occur through small, gradual adjustments rather than large shifts.
   • Decision-makers rely on past experiences and existing policies to inform future actions.
   • Highlights the importance of consensus and negotiation among stakeholders.
   • Recognizes the limitations of resources and information in the decision-making process.

3. Garbage Can Model

   • Describes decision-making as chaotic and unpredictable, with problems, solutions, and participants all mixed together.
   • Emphasizes the role of timing and chance in the policy process.
   • Suggests that decisions are made when the right combination of issues and solutions converge.
   • Highlights the complexity of organizational behavior and the influence of ambiguity.

4. Multiple Streams Framework

   • Proposes that policy change occurs when three streams—problems, policies, and politics—converge.
   • Emphasizes the role of "windows of opportunity" for policy entrepreneurs to push their agendas.
   • Highlights the importance of timing and the alignment of various factors in the policy process.
   • Recognizes that not all issues are addressed simultaneously, leading to selective attention.

5. Punctuated Equilibrium Theory

   • Suggests that policy change is characterized by long periods of stability interrupted by brief, significant shifts.
   • Emphasizes the role of public attention and political dynamics in triggering change.
   • Highlights the importance of institutional structures and the influence of external events.
   • Recognizes that policy processes can be both stable and dynamic over time.

6. Advocacy Coalition Framework

   • Focuses on the role of coalitions of actors who share beliefs and work together to influence policy.
   • Emphasizes the importance of learning and adaptation within coalitions over time.
   • Recognizes the impact of external factors, such as public opinion and political events, on coalition dynamics.
   • Highlights the significance of shared values and beliefs in shaping policy outcomes.

7. Institutional Analysis and Development Framework

   • Examines how institutions shape policy decisions and outcomes through rules, norms, and practices.
   • Emphasizes the importance of understanding the context and structure of institutions.
   • Highlights the role of stakeholders and their interactions within institutional frameworks.
   • Recognizes that institutions can both enable and constrain policy options.

8. Policy Diffusion Model

   • Explores how policies spread across different jurisdictions and contexts.
   • Emphasizes the role of social networks, communication, and learning in the diffusion process.
   • Highlights factors that influence the adoption of policies, such as political, economic, and cultural contexts.
   • Recognizes that diffusion can lead to both convergence and divergence in policy practices.

9. Systems Theory

   • Views policy as part of a larger system of interrelated components, including social, economic, and political factors.
   • Emphasizes the importance of feedback loops and interactions among different elements of the system.
   • Highlights the complexity and dynamism of policy environments.
   • Recognizes that changes in one part of the system can have ripple effects throughout.

10. Network Theory

    • Focuses on the relationships and interactions among various actors in the policy process.
    • Emphasizes the importance of collaboration, communication, and information exchange.
    • Highlights how networks can facilitate or hinder policy development and implementation.
    • Recognizes the role of power dynamics and resource distribution within networks.