2015/08/25 by Peter L Hupe, Peter Hupe, Michael J Hill +1 · 6 citations
Decision Sciences · Social Sciences · #Evaluation and Performance Assessment #Policy Transfer and Learning #Public Policy and Administration Research
paper · doi:10.1177/0952076715598828
openalex publication_date 2015/08/25 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Implementation occurs as a ‘late’ part in the stages model of the policy process. As such, it is seen as following upon and subordinate to the preceding stages of agenda-setting and policy formation. Hence, implementation is often addressed as ‘the rest’. This view on implementation as a presupposed residual in goal achievement implies little attention to ‘political’ dimensions, like ambiguity and conflict. Therefore, the view can only partially explain the – sometimes disappointing – results of policy processes. Alternatively, approaches to the policy/implementation nexus with an explicit focus on what happens at the street level have a greater explanatory potential. They are not taking implementation for granted as a seemingly technical matter, simply prescribed by policy objectives.