This module’s assigned texts have indicated several problems faced by both the people and public officials in the country. From these problems, I think the main ones include poor implementation of policies and lack of accountability. The two problems result in the development of other problems that end up hurting the country in one way or another.

When it comes to poor policy implementation, the theories developed sound quite good. However, after implementation, they do not look the way they sounded. Among the issues that bring the problem of policy implementation is the poor interpretation by the people responsible for the implementation. This ends up in the development of something that was not intended in the first place. There is also a failure in consulting the people that are likely to be affected by the policy. Having input from the affected individuals would help in identifying the actual steps to take in order ensure that the implementation is successful.  There are times when the people will be opposed to a given policy after it has been implemented due to lack of being consulted. Another cause is that there in the poor formulation of the actual problems facing the people. This results in the implementation of policies that do not solve the initial problems that the people had. Poor implementation of policies is a problem for the society since the issues affecting the people will never be resolved when such aspects persist. Among the courses of action that can be taken to solve the problem is being clear about the problem from the word go. The people involved with the implementation should also work with the wider system by consulting all the relevant stakeholders. Desirable communication is also vital since it will ensure that policy makers are able to agree on basic facts.

The issue of accountability has been known to affect many public sectors for a long time. When things go wrong, it is never clear which individual was responsible for the action or inaction. Among the causes of lack of accountability is the culture that we have embedded in our agencies. That is “trusting, without verifying”. There is a form of autonomous power provided to public sectors, but less is being done to follow up on the activities that they are undertaking. A good example is the police misconduct that is experienced in most states. On most occasions, it culminates due to lack of effective supervision. Another aspect resulting to poor accountability is unclear responsibilities. This is why there are always blame games when things get out of hand in public sectors. It becomes difficult to trace the people responsible for various shortcomings. Lack of accountability is a problem for the society because it can result in the persistence of undesirable occurrences without having a lasting solution since the root cause is not identified. The courses of action that can help solve the problem include ensuring that there is a clear demarcation of responsibilities in public institutions. It would become clear to identify the individuals ‘sleeping on their jobs’. People in the public sector should also receive remuneration based on their performance levels. This would ensure that people are accountable for what they have been employed to undertake.

References

Pal, L.A. (2013). Beyond Policy Analysis: Public Issue Management in Turbulent Times. 5th Ed. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Nelson.

Health Knowledge,. (2010). Problems of Policy Implementation. Retrieved 15 October 2016, from http://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/medical-sociology-policy-economics/4c-equality-equity-policy/problems-policy-implementation

Responses

Katherine Brown

Hi Katherine,

This is a good write-up you have here. You have used varied statistics to help prove the severity of this issue. I have to agree in light of the amounts that people are required to pay for student loans; there is a dilemma for some people on whether the degree is actually worth it. There is a time when having college education would have been regarded as a guarantee to a prosperous career life, but that does not seem to be the case at the moment. When Bernie Sanders was vying for the Democratic presidential ticket, he used the policy for free college education among his top agendas. This is something that endeared him to his supporters. It is an indication of how people view this issue with high regard. Policy makers have to take this issue with the seriousness that it deserves. The rate at which college fees are increasing is not consistent with the rate of which people’s wages are increasing. If the cost of education continues to rise now and then, education will end up being for the chosen few. This will result in increased illiteracy levels, something that ought to be eradicated as the country develops further.  Crime and violence are also likely to increase as people try to make ends meet.

 Michael Portillo

Hi Michael,

I agree with you on the issue of slow response to social issues. Past experiences have shown that the government is always reluctant to act when things are yet to get out of hand. The need for implementing policies is normally heightened by occurrences that bring about negative effects. A good example is gun violence in the country. This issue gains momentum when incidences of mass shootings arise. Various policies are proposed but are never implemented. The issue dies slowly, and it is forgotten until another mass shooting occurs. It is high time that the government became active with the implementation of policies rather than being reactive.

Your notion that people are self-centered is also true. This might come out as something minor, but it is big in its own way. This is because the attitude is usually translated and practiced in institutions that are designed to cater for the needs of the people. Individuals that are self-centered will always strive to fulfill their needs before they can work on what they have been designated to do. This explains the levels of corruption and nepotism that are experienced in public sectors. People want to take everything for themselves before they can start serving the interest of the people.  These mentalities tend to stagnate development since people are more focused on fulfilling personal gratification.

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