Kingdom and Stone Analysis - Essay Example

Kingdon and Stone analysis Question 2 a Stone explains that problem definition is a vital stage in the process of determining a solution. The process of defining the problem is an extensive one that involves the investigation of the causes of the problems. Causes may manifest in the types and features of the problem, investigating the causes of a problem therefore entails the investigation of different aspects of a problem including its manifestation and the effects that a problem may have on the society. “What is the problem?” This amounts to the basic question that everyone asks as the preliminary stage of investigating a problem. A problem is a major social feature that affects the society thereby implying that everyone would have a definition of the problem. People define a social problem based on its effects. After explaining the problem as it manifests itself in the society, the next stage in the definition process is determining the causes of the problem. This requires the consideration of the current features of the problems (Stone, 2011). While the history of a problem may provide vital information on both its effects and causes, the stage dictates that one concentrates on the current features of the problem since its manifestation is a result of prevailing lapses in the social structure. By investigating the current features of the problems, it becomes possible to determine the lapses that perpetuate the prevalence of the problem. Such factors may fuel the problem thereby spiraling its effects to a vast margin. Additionally, while investigating the features of the problems, it becomes prudent to avoid the troubles the problem may cause. A problem is likely to have ripple effects, which in most cases constitute trouble. While investigating the problem especially at a preliminary stage, Stone explains that concentrating on the troubles arising from the problem is likely to compound the issue. Such a social problem as increase in crime rate in a society may have myriad effects in the society including the rise of vigilante activities in the society. When defining such, Stone postulates that the investigator must major on the on the present features of the problem such as the regions with the highest cases and the manifestation of the problem in the society (Kingdon, 2010). This way, it becomes possible for the investigator to manage the investigation and keep them to the vital features of the problems. After achieving an objective understanding of the problem, the next process is to brainstorm some of the common causes to the problem. Brainstorming provides an investigator with an overview and equally hypothetical look into the problem. Through brainstorming, one expands his or her imagination thereby gaining an equally objective view into the problems. However, the causes deduced from the brainstorming exercise should not restrict the imagination of the investigator since such provides a hypothetical result. It remains imperative that the investigator carries out an extensive research and interact with the people in order to gather actual data that relates to the problem. This helps the investigator obtain a holistic approach to the problem by considering the relative factors as presented by the people. Such a social problem as increase in the population for example may have several causes, the investigators must therefore obtain the facts from the ground since such may provide such intriguing patterns as the contribution of the youths and the information that the people have on contraceptive among many other vital issues that contribute to such social problems. After determining the problems and comparing to the results of the brainstorming exercise, it becomes imperative for the investigator to pool the findings. Pooling the causes and arranging in the order of their prominence gives the investigator with an opportunity to understand the problem better thereby defining realistic solutions to the problems. Arranging the causes in order of prominence facilitates understanding the problem. Furthermore, this will help formulate realistic solutions by tackling the cases as considered vital by the research. Examples of the causes to a problem may be the people, resources, environment and legislations among many others. After determining these and pooling them in the order to urgency, the process of policy formulation becomes easier since the stakeholders have an effective understanding of the problem. However, before beginning the process of policy formulation, Stone explains that it is significant for the investigators to understand opinions and assumptions that people have on both the problem and its causes. Opinions and assumptions for example are cultural features of the problem that have immense influence on the problem since they influence the mindset of the society. People share opinions and assumptions on problems, coupled with the vigor of spin-doctors in a society the influence of assumptions and opinions become equally severe and equally detrimental to the solution of a problem. Understanding the role of the two influences the formulation of policies to curb the problem. This implies that the most important policy that one can formulate is to change the mindset of the society. Question 2 b Stone defines efficiency as the appropriate utilization of such resources as time, finances and effort in the completion of a task. Unlike effectiveness, efficiency is a measurable concept that refers to the ratio of utilization of input to the output. This explanation thus makes effectiveness vague since it does not explain the value for the resources utilized in undertaking a task. Stone explains that a policy should have an efficiency framework since the formulation and implementation of a policy constitutes the utilization of resources. This validates the need for an efficiency framework in order to provide the stakeholders with a mechanism of measuring the output against the input thereby guaranteeing value for the resources utilized. The process of formulating a policy begins with an extensive research on the social issue. The research as an initial stage in understanding a problem requires adequate resources in order to determine the cause of the problem in order to formulate realistic policies. The implementation of a policy on the other hand requires adequate resources since most policies result in the creation of new offices in order to oversee the implementation of the policy. The above explain ways of utilizing different resources including time and monetary resources, which require accountability. Efficiency thus provides the stakeholders with a way of measuring the efficiency of the taskforce created to investigate a social issue and formulate the policies. Additionally, it provides for mechanisms of measuring the relevance and effectiveness of the policies. As a measurable concept, efficiency provides ways of evaluating the policy thereby influencing successive undertaking sin order to better the implementation process. Increasing the use of contraceptives to curb rise in population is an example of a policy that requires efficient implementation. A government rolling out such a policy should have clear outlines of the timetable of the implementation process. This will include the kind of activities to be undertaken in the implementation of the policy. Such will include extensive media campaigns in order to influence the public and additional civic education. Such activities require timelines with evaluation methodologies to provide the stakeholders with a way of evaluating the efficiency. The implementation plan must include the time within which to run the different media adverts and the types of civic education. Additionally, the implementation plan will indicate the duration for each activity, enforcement and evaluation mechanisms, this implies that the policy should indicate the timing of the evaluation in order to determine the efficiency of the policy. A policy statement must have timelines; an example of a policy statement to curb rising population would be to reduce the population of the country by thirty percent within the next years. Couples enjoy the liberty to determine their family sizes. In an effort to curb rising population, the government can only try to influence the public and succeed in doing so in order to succeed in its endeavors. This implies that the government must implement effective policies and carry out efficient implementation of the policies. Efficiency in such endeavor thus becomes an abstract feature not guaranteed by any state body. Regardless of such a situation, a policy must motivate the stakeholders the maintain fidelity and therefore implement the policy within the timeline and measure the efficiency of the policy. Efficiency is an operational aspect that seeks to minimize wastage of resources. Some policies have effective ways of enforcing the same. The type of a policy should therefore exhibit a feature of evaluation and have effective ways of enforcing the policy. Among the most fundamental ways of implementing a policy, include the need to uphold ethical operations. Ethical concerns are vital in the utilization of resources especially in public offices. Corruption for example is a major ethical concern. Effective utilization of resource commands that the stakeholders use utilize the resources as stipulated in the policy statement. Embezzling funds curtails the reach of media campaigns and civic educations thereby limiting the relevance of a policy. The government must therefore have effective laws that govern the utilization of public resources in order to avert such instances and motivate civil servants to maintain high ethical standards of operation. In retrospect, efficiency is a vital operational feature that guides the formulation and implementation of policies. The measurable concept provides for ways of monitoring the process of implementing a policy with the aim of curbing wastage of resources. A government may formulate appropriate policies but without a way of measuring the utilization of resources in the formulation and implementation of such policies, the processes become extravagant thereby making such policies redundant. By measuring the ratio of output to the input, the government gets an opportunity to evaluate and rectify mistakes in such policies thereby providing the stakeholders with an opportunity to rectify mistakes thereby implementing realistic policies. References Kingdon, J. W. (2010). Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies, 2nd ed. New York: Longman, 20010. Stone, D. (2011). Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making, Third Edition.New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Read More