DVA3703-0CT-NOV EXAM-PORTFOLIO.

Table of Contents QUESTION 1.......................................................................................................................................................... 3 The Policy Formulation Process:........................................................................................................................... 3 Action Instruments of the Policy Formulation:.................................................................................................... 4 References............................................................................................................................................................... 7 2 QUESTION 1 Define and discuss information gathering, information analysis and consultation as action instruments linking the phases of the policy formulation process. The Policy Formulation Process: The concept of policy formulation refers to the process of identifying courses of action, often called alternatives or options, to resolve problems faced by a particular organization (Anderson, 2003:27). Policy making is a complex political and administrative process which often extends across organizational and sectoral boundaries. Policy formulation includes actors, stakeholders, organizations and citizens who all have concerns or vested interests that they believe merit attention via public policies (Du Plessis & Kotzé 2016: 40). According to Du Plessis and Kotzé (2016), the policy-making process begins when a problem or issue is identified by one or more stakeholders. The need for a particular policy could be necessitated by the manner in which the economic or political system is structured or functions. There are different models involved in defining the process for policy formulation but one of the most popular means is the simplification of the policy making process into series of steps or stages. These series of steps or stages are known as policy cycles (Du Plessis & Kotzé 2016: 40). Why policy formulation? Policy formulation according to Dunn (in Du Plessis & Kotze 2016) involves several critical stages between inception and conclusion; they include problem identification, description of primary objectives, selection of alternatives, decision-making, design and evaluation, and reformulation. However, three action instruments animate this progression, linking the various stages of the policy formulation process. These instruments include information gathering, information analysis, and consultations; they guarantee flexibility in policy-making and allow analysts to review earlier stages with