Public Policy Development Process Research Articles

Towards a national policy on nursing education and training: an imperative framework for integrating nursing education within South Africa’s post-school education system

The aim of this study article is to present an analysis of the first national policy framework, which provides a coherent approach to integrating nursing education into a newly defined band for higher education programmes in South Africa. The significance of this policy framework is ensuring the seamless transition from legacy nursing programmes to NQF-registered nursing programmes. It explores the agenda-setting process, analyses the prevailing context and outlines the rationale for the policy. Walt and Gilson’s policy triage analysis process outlines the key elements of the policy development process. Drawing upon Tarlov’s two-phased public policy development process, the article outlines the steps completed in the policy development process. Recommendations are proposed to expand access, improve quality and diversify the provisioning of nursing education and training in South Africa.

Гендерний баланс в Україні: індикатори, проблеми та цифровий формат забезпечення

The purpose of the article is to study the theoretical and practical principles of ensuring gender balance in the country as a prerequisite for gender equality. Gender equality is a state of equal access to resources and opportunities, regardless of gender, in particular equal participation in economic activity and decision-making, as well as a state of valuation of different aspirations and needs equally, regardless of gender. Ensuring gender equality in all spheres of human activity is also regulated by Art. 24 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine «On Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men», ratified by the ILO Convention No. 100 on equal remuneration of men and women for work of equal value and the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. The article explores the gender balance in domestic enterprises. The ratio of the average wages of women and men in the period 2016–2021 has the dynamics towards reducing the gender gap. In 2021, the gender gap in Ukrainian organizations amounted to 70.8%. In general, in the rankings for 2020, Ukraine ranks 60th out of 160 countries. The most problematic in achieving gender equality in wages are the following areas of activity: agriculture, forestry, fisheries, arts, sports and recreation, financial and insurance activities, postal and courier delivery. In Ukraine, as in other European countries, there are gender stereotypes of professions, due to the nature of work. More «male» are considered the sphere of construction, transport, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, as well as manufacturing industry. More «female» areas of activity include the sphere of health care and social assistance. An important indicator of gender discrimination is women’s participation in politics. As of the beginning of 2021, the number of women in the parliament was 20.8% (in 2020 – 12.8%). Women are often discriminated against in an interview with a potential employer. In particular, there are many advertisements in the media regarding hiring, which contain requirements regarding the age and gender of the employee. Sex screenings are especially often used when it comes to highly paid and prestigious positions. The pandemic has further exacerbated the problems of gender inequality in Ukraine. Almost 40% of women surveyed began to earn less income, and there was also a gap of 20% between the salaries of women and men in the same positions. An equally important role in establishing a gender-balanced approach in the country is knowledge. An important aspect of gender equality is women’s self-education and development. Another problem in Ukraine and in the world in general is to ensure gender balance in the culture of those organizations that, according to stereotypes, are suitable only for men, in particular, law enforcement agencies. Thus, it is determined that there are still manifestations of gender inequality in Ukraine. Obstacles to the gender approach arise not only because of the low level of awareness of gender issues or the lack of political will to implement policies, but also because of the very slow process of public policy development along with the political reality in Ukraine. Therefore, a rapid reform is the best opportunity to integrate the instruments of gender equality and gender approach. Among the main instruments should be tax incentives for maintaining a gender balance among staff, implementing gender quotas in the composition of staff of various categories, using digital reporting of enterprises, promoting the development of remote employment, etc.

Narratives and networks model of the social licence

The social licence concept originated in resource industries and has generated models that attempt to integrate the social, legal, economic, and political factors that affect it. While the processes by which a social licence is won or lost at the community level have been detailed, there has not been a similar process-oriented exploration of how public opinion also affects it. This article proposes the ‘narratives and networks’ model for integrating community impacts based in stakeholder relationships with public opinion impacts based in resource policy narratives in the public sphere. It clarifies the social licence concept and articulates hitherto latent questions about it. The engine of the model is a process called the ‘socio-political churn’, which is the interaction of networks of narratives with networks of stakeholders. The model draws on existing political science research into the public policy development process and provides a framework for conceptualizing and researching the co-evolution of narratives and coalitions that embody the rivalries among stakeholders with conflicting agendas. For the rivals themselves, the model offers a scalable framework for developing practical strategies for either improving or damaging an organization's or an industry's social licence.

Problems of formation of the modern state policy on development of animal husbandry

Purpose. The aim of the research is the theoretical and methodological substantiation of conceptual approaches to the identification of problems of formation and implementation of the modern state policy on development of animal husbandry. 
 Methodology / approach. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the dialectical method of cognition, scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on the process of formation of state policy, which contributes to the timely identification of various complex socio-political and industrial problems, establishes the causes of their occurrence and allows to determine ways to solve them. To achieve this goal, an integrated approach was applied to the research of the process of public policy development, which includes methods of system analysis, functional, cause-and-effect and expert survey.
 Results. The theoretical aspects and problems of formation of the modern state policy, its content, tools, functions and activities are substantiated. It is established that in order to ensure the achievement of a high level of livestock development in the country it is necessary to promote the widespread introduction of public policy decisions deeply thought out, competent, targeted and scientifically sound public policy, which is an important condition for the existence of a legal and democratic state and the effective performance of its functions. It is noted that in the environment of state policy a whole complex of state-political decisions is taken, the necessary tools are developed, the mechanism of their implementation in animal husbandry is formed.
 Originality / scientific novelty. The originality of the research is manifested in the development of theoretical and practical foundations, make it possible to reveal the integrity of the characteristics of the state-political process in the development and implementation of public policy. Scientific novelty is to determine for the state policy (an important component of guaranteeing the stable development of the country, the life of society and citizens) a set of problems characteristic of the revival and effective development of the livestock industry. 
 Practical value / implications. The practical significance of the results of the study is that they can be used in the practice of public authorities in order to improve the process of determining and considering the priority problems of public policy, the development of science-based programs of political and socio-economic development of the country in the formation of public policy to ensure the further development of animal husbandry.

Development of a French-language online health policy course: an international collaboration

To present the process and challenges of developing an online competency-based course on public health policy using a collaborative international approach. Five public health experts, supported by an expert in educational technology, adopted a rigorous approach to the development of the course: a needs analysis, identification of objectives and competencies, development of a pedagogical scenario for each module and target, choice of teaching methods and learning activities, material to be identified or developed, and the responsibilities and tasks involved. The 2-credit (90-hour) graduate course consists of six modules including an integration module. The modules start with a variety of case studies: tobacco law (neutral packaging), supervised injection sites, housing, integrated services for the frail elderly, a prevention programme for mothers from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the obligatory use of bicycle helmets. In modules 1, 3, 4 and 5, students learn about different stages of the public policy development process: emergence, formulation and adoption, implementation and evaluation. Module 2 focuses on the importance of values and ideologies in public policy. The integration module allows the students to apply the knowledge learned and addresses the role of experts in public policy and ethical considerations. The course has been integrated into the graduate programmes of the participating universities and allows students to follow, at a distance, an innovative training programme.

Desempeño parlamentario de las comisiones legislativas permanentes sobre género en legislaturas de América Latina

This paper describes and compares the legislative performance of specialized commissions on gender issues with other commissions in several Latin American legislatures. The research identifies differences and similarities in the activities of these commissions and their influence on the process of public policy development in five countries (Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Paraguay) that have specialized commissions on this topic. It is argued that there is a variation in the legislative performance of the different committees in the legislatures studied; in addition, this work explores the influence of the female leaderships in the performance of these commissions.

The application of life cycle assessment to public policy development

Despite the potential value it offers, integration of life cycle assessment (LCA) into the development of environmental public policy has been limited. This paper researches potential barriers that may be limiting the use of LCA in public policy development, and considers process opportunities to increase this application. Research presented in this paper is primarily derived from reviews of existing literature and case studies, as well as interviews with key public policy officials with LCA experience. Direct experience of the author in LCA projects with public policy elements has also contributed to approaches and conclusions. LCAs have historically been applied within a rational framework, with experts conducting the analysis and presenting results to decision-makers for application to public policy development. This segmented approach has resulted in limited incorporation of LCA results or even a broader approach of life cycle thinking within the public policy development process. Barriers that limit the application of LCA within the public policy development process range from lack of technical knowledge and LCA understanding on the part of policy makers, to a lack of trust in LCA process and results. Many of the identified barriers suggest that the failure of LCAs to contribute positively to public policy development is due to the process within which the LCA is being incorporated, rather than technical problems in the LCA itself. Overcoming the barriers to effective use of LCAs in public policy development will require a more normative approach to the LCA process that incorporates a broad group of stakeholders at all stages of the assessment. Specifically, a set of recommendations have been developed to produce a more inclusive and effective process. In an effort to effectively incorporate LCA within the overall public policy decision-making process, the decision-making process should incorporate a multi-disciplinary approach that includes a range of stakeholders and public policy decision-makers in a collaborative process. One of the most important aspects of incorporating LCA into public policy decisions is to encourage life cycle thinking among policy makers. Considering the life cycle implications will result in more informed and thoughtful decisions, even if a full LCA is not undertaken.

PARAMETERS OF PUBLIC POLICY CHANGE

Research has identified a wide range of factors that influence the health of children and their health as adults. Key among these are early childhood conditions, care, and education, housing security and income security. A number of indicators have been developed to measure the health of children such as the incidences of infant mortality and low birth weight. In international comparisons with other rich countries, Canada ranks poorly. These health outcomes are not inevitable but are shaped by the quality and distribution of a wide range of social determinants. Public policies shape access to and quality of the social determinants of children’s health (SDCH). Because the SDCH are amenable to public policy, it is important to understand public policy and the public policy development process in order to promote policy change. Yet few health practitioners who work with children consider or understand how the public policy development process works. This article examines three models of public policy development: pluralism, policy paradigms, and political economy. It will be argued that of the three models, political economy, with its focus on the role of political ideology and power distribution, provides the most compelling explanation of the public policy development process and provides means to bring about policy change to improve the health of children.

Toward a Public Policy and Marketing Understanding of Lobbying and Its Role in the Development of Public Policy in the United States

A key aspect of the public policy development process in the United States is marketing-laden competition among interest groups aiming to influence policy in their respective favors. Lobbying, the principal means by which this competition transpires, has vast potential to significantly affect marketplace law and practice—including marketers and consumers—in a widespread way. The purpose of this essay is to stimulate scholarly discussion on lobbying and its role in the public policy development process. Toward this end, the authors (1) discuss the nature of lobbying practice in the United States, (2) consider regulatory control and protection of lobbying activity, (3) formulate a theoretical framework from within which to understand lobbying from a public policy and marketing perspective, and (4) provide suggestions for the direction of further research.

Zoning for Parking as Policy Process: A Historical Review

Zoning for parking is reviewed as a historical process of public policy development. Zoning for parking was relatively rare among US cities before the Second World War. By 1969, however, virtually all US cities with populations exceeding 25 000 zoned for parking as their primary method of dealing with land‐use problems associated with rising automobile ownership rates. A brief history of zoning for parking reveals that despite its continuing popularity, it has almost always been a controversial topic. A review of major studies reveals important aspects of zoning for parking as it has changed over time. Zoning for parking began as an occasional or piecemeal approach to resolving specific problems associated with growing automobile storage requirements. It gradually became the preferred method to ensure adequate parking space in an automobile‐oriented society. It was first employed to address the unusually high parking requirements of more affluent neighbourhoods in higher density areas, but gradually grew to encompass most land uses in most urban areas of any size or location. Zoning for parking originally was a supply‐side strategy, but has since become more demand oriented in its approach. Parking experts originally promoted a diversity of parking standards based primarily on those observed in planning practice. Today they generally advocate more specific parking standards based on broader national experience. Zoning for parking nonetheless appears to be a more flexible strategy today than it was 50 years ago. Parking standards, whether observed in planning practice or recommended by national authorities, have increased much less rapidly than automobile ownership rates over the last 50 years. This may help to explain why a policy so frequently decried as inefficient, ineffective and inequitable has nonetheless managed to survive even in a more socially and environmentally aware world.

Public policy frameworks for improving population health.

Four conceptual frameworks provide bases for constructing comprehensive public policy strategies for improving population health within wealthy (OECD) nations. (1) Determinants of population health. There are five broad categories: genes and biology, medical care, health behaviors, the ecology of all living things, and social/societal characteristics. (2) Complex systems: Linear effects models and multiple independent effects models fail to yield results that explain satisfactorily the dynamics of population health production. A different method (complex systems modeling) is needed to select the most effective interventions to improve population health. (3) An intervention framework for population health improvement. A two-by-five grid seems useful. Most intervention strategies are either ameliorative or fundamentally corrective. The other dimension of the grid captures five general categories of interventions: child development, community development, adult self-actualization, socioeconomic well-being, and modulated hierarchical structuring. (4) Public policy development process: the process has two phases. The initial phase, in which public consensus builds and an authorizing environment evolves, progresses from values and culture to identification of the problem, knowledge development from research and experience, the unfolding of public awareness, and the setting of a national agenda. The later phase, taking policy action, begins with political engagement and progresses to interest group activation, public policy deliberation and adoption, and ultimately regulation and revision. These frameworks will be applied to help understand the 39 recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health, the Sir Donald Acheson Report from the United Kingdom, which is the most ambitious attempt to date to develop a comprehensive plan to improve population health.

Designing solutions for securing patient privacy--meeting the demands of health care in the 21st century.

To define the issues surrounding patient privacy, examine the political context in which debate is taking place, and present a novel technology model for addressing privacy, confidentiality, and security in 21st century health care. The discussion of privacy addresses one of the basic issues in health care today--the tension between the needs of the individual patient for privacy and confidentiality and the needs of society to effectively manage health care practices and control health care costs. Patient concerns for privacy, confidentiality, and security are legitimate, and can usually be reduced to issues that potentially affect an individual's employment, ability to get and maintain health coverage, and have control over his or her records and care. These concerns, combined with several precipitating events, are forcing the issue of privacy into the political arena, where new health policy decisions will be made. The debate must be framed within a principle-centered approach that focuses on boundaries, security, consumer control, accountability, and public responsibility. A global, distributed electronic health record management model that provides location-independent, secured, authenticated access to relevant patient care records by qualified health care professionals on a need-to-know basis provides solutions. Information asset considerations should be designed to equitably represent the ownership needs of corporate entities, society, and the individual. A secure electronic health record structure that systematically ensures a high level of accountability combined with thoughtful dialogue among key stakeholders in the public policy development process can offer the privacy outcomes we seek.

Uses of scientific, technical, and societal information by policy makers

The entire life cycle of scientific, technical, and societal information is changing, due both to new technologies and to enhanced awareness of the importance of information in everyday life. This article describes features undergoing change within the life cycle and presents two examples, illustrating how information is used in policy setting. Possible measures of the way in which the public policy development process uses scientific, technical, and societal information are proposed.