How Use of Evidence Affects Policy Making - Case Study Example

Wicked problems in Hemesworth Name: Institution: Course: Date of submission: Introduction From the article on Hemesworth, it is clear from the understanding of policy making and how use of evidence affects policy making. The wicked problems, according to the article influence political sector as well as the other sectors in policy making (Althaus, 2012, pp. 178-185). From the article, it is clear that the available information in policy making does not determine decision making in policy making as well as use of relevant information. Further, it is a claim by Ferlie (2011, pp. 307-324) that policy making relates mostly on the various stakeholders involved in policy making, a postulate I also support from the article. As Murgatroyd (2010, pp. 250-263) support, the policies made basing their source from the evidences available represent a certain method. The method alleged here is used in justification of every policy made. Moreover, politics are locked out from contributing in policy making and decision making as well, as claimed by Althaus also (p. 242). THESIS It is my agreement political sector, which includes the policy makers has supplied information in policy making as evident in the article on Hemesworth. Further, the technical and scientific perception of the problem is where many policy makers and decision makers base their concentration in. Therefore, the problem is never identified for the respective measures to be taken upon. This is due to presence of two perspectives of perceiving the problem. Discussion From the case study of Hemesworth on wicked problems and their relation on use of politics in policy making, the real problem ends up not being identified. There is lack of clarity in understanding if the problem thus the wrong solution being settled for (Ferlie, 2011, P. 310). On basing policy on evidence, much misunderstanding is evident. There has been lack of respective solution to some problems due to reliance on policy. Making of policies entails giving specific conditions whose solutions are fixed. As explained further in the article, some wicked problems are not part of the policies at hand. It therefore follows the policy makers trying to select the best suitable solution for the problem, which could be the start of another problem. Moreover, different problems should be addressed in a different perspective, not relying on a fixed policy to handle various differing wicked problems. The wicked problems are not definite. Relationship between policy making and politics Political sector governs many nations. According to Hemesworth, which is our cases study, we have politicians impacting the decisions made in resorting wicked problems in the society. As a result, the social and technical problems end up not being solved. From the three illustrations given, there is lack of specific solutions for several problems. The difficulties are brought forth by the differences in technical and scientific analysis of these problems. Therefore, the political sector barely gets to find the solution to these problems. Further, there is always a scientist solution to various problems affecting the ecology of the globe, which has no definite solution once solved politically. I could formulate a case where the science can give a specific solution to global warming. But the political department can barely relate the problem to its policy. It is due to absence of a definite postulation of the problem to the various points of view (Ferlie, 2011, P. 310). Besides, it’s a realization that not only the political sector is unable to solve these wicked problems, the economical ant technological sector also is raising a variety of solutions, which are not bound to some policies. The great risk thereby evident from the article’s explanation on wicked problems, we have the strong holds believed to give solutions to problems. The challenges are brought by differences in people’s postulations and perceptions on specific factors. If the scientific area is expected to have some solutions, then the respective data is not delivered, it becomes a challenge to the nation to handle these wicked problems as Murgatroyd also confirm in p. 260. Each geographical area has its climate related problems, which have vitiated causes. It has been evident that the technical and science sector has been assuming a common solution for the related problems. This has then led to the development of more wicked problems as accorded in the article. I further perceive from the article that each case be taken independently. It will therefore result that the specific department handling the problem is working towards getting a definite solution to the problem. As a result the wicked problem cases will have been eradicated from the society. Besides, the appropriate measure being taken upon each problem helps the future generation not to rely on the policies and postulates thereby to make decisions, policies as well as give solutions to problems as Bogenschneider (2011, p. 274) support. According to the article’s statement on their cases studies, it is vivid that not only the political sector is messing with solution making. The scientific and technical sectors are also involved. We have some problems having their basis being common (Howlett, 2010, pp. 153-157).I can attest that the reason behind relying on the policies thereby in getting solutions to problems has a base on money-greed from political area. We have the government avoiding overspending its revenues in funding for research teams to investigate on each problem evident. To some extent the use of policy is of help to the governments’ revenue without consideration of the impact exerted on the affected area by the problem. Research on each problem is necessary for every problem. The government barely realizes that any problem occurring now must have occurred earlier in the same or different ecology (Howlatt, 2010, pp. 160-165). Therefore, keeping the data eases future reference, which will reduce the many demands of finance to fund the project. Besides, closely related problems have similar approaches. The difference could be on how to handle as well as the solutions to be adopted from the wicked problem. Besides, a problem could be wicked to a specific sector and be manageable in the other area, where a variety of approaches can be adopted. Evidence based policy making and decision making Use of evidence in making decisions and policy has been discussed to some length in the article on Hemesworth case study of wicked problems. Evidences brought on table most times are not valid for the respective cases study. Irrelevant evidence has been used in decision making under several forums, which led to negative results as (Head, 2015, pp. 736-739)) attest also. From our cases study discussed in the article, it is right to support that not all evidences given are valid to be used in decision making and policy making. In relation to the case in wicked problems, i quote an example where the government takes on case of a n individual affected by a product due to personal allergies, to barn the product from the market and to make it a policy that no products to be distributed from the organization. This relates to the case among the three examples give. It then follows that the government undergoes a financial loss as a result of basing its source of information indecision making and policy making on the evidences available (Head, 2014, pp. 676-679). From the survey made after the article is read from the various articles discussing the same problem, we find that several authors support neglect ion of some evidences in decision making. At the end of the practice we find that a policy is made, which has no valid base being adopted to solve complex problems. It has led to many differences in the judgment of the science, technical, technological as well as making judgments politically (McConnell, 2010, pp. 356-360). Conclusion In decision making, each case has to be handled individually. It will result to the various sectors in the nation having their problems solved. Besides, understanding each case by the various areas will be encouraged thus a reduction of the common cases on misunderstanding and overstating of some problems. From further research, it is evident that not all evidences brought by researchers fit to be used in decision making. The decision makers have to be keen on the cases adopted for the practice thus reducing the wicked problems from the society. Moreover, politics have to be put away from contributing politically in policy making. This will lead to neglect ion of the most benefiting projects from other research sectors. It could lead to the downfall of several nations due to resolutions problems politically, without considering the scientific, economical, technical and technological, among other sectors, perception on the respective solution to the problem. Besides, each problem should have its solution sought independently as this will help narrow down the solution-finding process in the near future. References Althaus, C., Bridgman, P. and Davis, G., 2012.The Australian Policy handbook. Allen &Unwin Bogenschneider, K. and Corbett, T.J., 2011. Evidence based policymaking: insights from policy minded researchers and research minded policymakers. Routledge Ferlie, E., Fitzgerald, L., Mcgivern, G., Dopson, S. and Bennet, C., 2011. Public policy networks and wicked problems: a nascent solution? Public administration, 89(2), pp307-324 Head, B.W., 2014. Evidence, uncertainty and wicked problems in climate change decision making in Australia. Environment and planning c: government and policy, 32(4), pp663-679 Head, B.W. and Alford, J., 2015. Wicked problems implications for public policy and management administration& Society, 47(6), pp. 711-739 Howlett, M., 2010. Policy analytical capacity and evidence based policy making: lessons from Canada. Canadian public administration, 52(2), pp.153-175. Murgatroyd, S., 2010.’Wicked problems and the work of the school. European journal of education, 45, (2), pp. 259-279. McConnell, A., 2010. Policy success, policy failure and gray areas in between. Journal of public policy, 30(3), pp. 345-362. Read More