Public consultation process and public policy: A case study.

摘要

During the 1990s, consultation strategies increasingly have been incorporated into policy development processes. This qualitative case study offers an understanding of the development of a policy framework for the 1994 White Paper released by Alberta Advanced Education and Career Development, paying particular attention to the contribution of consultation to the policy development process. Interviews were conducted with government planners of the consultation or policy processes and with stakeholders who participated in the consultation activities.; The findings indicate that policy development may be conceptualized as a policy cycle comprising a set of processes (policy review, policy options, policy choice, and policy implementation) which are dynamic, interactive, overlapping, and fluid. Consultation can contribute to each policy process, and multiple cycles and processes may be underway concurrently. The transformation of policy-relevant information occurs through analysis and argument, however, the development of policy options can be influenced by other factors.; This study supports Kingdon's (1984) framework of policy making. In a political context, the creation of policy choices may occur through the coupling of policy issues with existing ideas of policy options, especially when a "window of opportunity" is presented. Conceptualizations of policy development from this study are characterized as complex, politicized, flexible, and incorporating stakeholder involvement.; Key areas for attention in consultation planning include specifying the relationship between the consultation and the overall policy decision strategies, developing clear objectives for the consultation, designing the consultations to achieve those objectives, and aligning strategies and leadership to integrate consultation and policy processes. A combination of consultation methods facilitates a broad basis of stakeholder participation. Multiple consultations, interactive methods, and continuity of participants help to build a relationship with a network of stakeholders.; Consultation can contribute to enhanced communication with stakeholders, broadened views of policy issues, moderated perspectives of policy options, modified policy choices, increased profile for the policy process, and added complexity for the policy arena. Attention to the design of consultation strategy, methods, and materials may facilitate both individual and group learning.; This study offers implications for practice for public-sector managers, educational leaders, and other stakeholders, and identifies areas for further research.