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Public Policy Analysis pp 65–101Cite as

Diagnosing Policy Problem Situations

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Part of the book series: International Series in Operations Research & Management Science ((ISOR,volume 179))

Abstract

As argued in Chap. 2, policy processes are multi-faceted and may display a wide variety of characteristics. Consequently, policy analysis in a multi-actor context needs to be contingent, multi-faceted, and pluriform. The concluding section of Chap. 2 articulated a wide array of requirements for good policy analysis. Chapter 3 outlined a conceptualization of the variety of different activities and associated purposes policy analysts may engage in. Which of these are most appropriate and which less so depends on the characteristics of the situation and on the ambitions of the client and of the analyst. Both chapters set the scene for the question: Given a specific policy situation, what requirements and type(s) of policy analytic activities are essential for achieving the purposes of client and analyst? In other words, how can an analyst make a reasoned design of his/her interventions? This will be the subject of Chap. 5.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Sometimes there is no clear diagnosis in medical practice, but only a suspicion about the illness to be cured, and either no treatment or a tentative treatment is chosen, to explore its effects and perhaps adapt treatment after some time. Analogous situations occur in policy processes as well.

  2. 2.

    A factor is an attribute of an entity (a thing, a person, a process) for which a value can be established on a scale via direct or indirect measurement.

  3. 3.

    Different systems traditions have developed different conventions regarding where to put the different types of influences in the visualization. In control systems engineering, the controls are put entering from the left side; while in the field of information systems, the controls are generally put on top, entering from above [like in the Structured Analysis and Design Technique (Marca and McGowan 1988)]. We will use the latter convention.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands

    Wil A. H. Thissen

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  1. Wil A. H. Thissen
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Correspondence to Wil A. H. Thissen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Technology, Policy and Man, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box, Delft, 2600 GA, Netherlands

    Wil A. H. Thissen

  2. , Department of Technology, Policy and Man, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5015, Delft, 2600 GA, Netherlands

    Warren E. Walker

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Thissen, W.A.H. (2013). Diagnosing Policy Problem Situations. In: Thissen, W., Walker, W. (eds) Public Policy Analysis. International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, vol 179. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4602-6_4

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