Summary Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems Bert Enserink 2nd edition 2022 9789462362994
Summary English
Parts 1 - 8
Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems
Bert Enserink
2nd edition 2022
9789462362994
For: Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management of Delft University of
Technology
+ 55 common test questions and answers
+ 50 most important core concepts explained
+ 7 handy weblinks
+ Top 10 trends and development
, Summary Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems Bert Enserink 2nd edition 2022 9789462362994
Contents
1. Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems.........................................................................................................................4
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................4
2. Problem Formulation in Complex Environments..........................................................................................................5
3. Systems Analysis...........................................................................................................................................................9
System under study......................................................................................................................................................9
System..........................................................................................................................................................................9
Develop an adequate system diagram........................................................................................................................10
4. Actor Analysis.............................................................................................................................................................12
Actor........................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Core............................................................................................................................................................................ 13
1. Formulation of a problem as a point of departure..............................................................................................13
2. Make an inventory of the actors involved...........................................................................................................13
Mapping formal relations...........................................................................................................................................14
Drafting Problem Formulations of Actors...................................................................................................................14
Analyze Interdependencies.........................................................................................................................................14
Actor Dependencies....................................................................................................................................................16
3. Confront the Initial Problem Formulation with the Findings...............................................................................17
Limitations.................................................................................................................................................................. 17
5.Exploring the future.....................................................................................................................................................18
Formal methods..........................................................................................................................................................18
Delphi method............................................................................................................................................................19
Scenarios..................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Developing contextual 8 steps....................................................................................................................................20
1. Determine the key question...............................................................................................................................20
2. Determine the factors or crucial powers in the environment of the policy field................................................20
3. Determine the driving forces or megatrends behind these factors....................................................................20
4. Arrange the factors and forces according to importance and uncertainty.........................................................20
5. Design the scenario logic....................................................................................................................................20
6. Detail the scenarios.............................................................................................................................................20
7. Evaluate the key question...................................................................................................................................20
8. Monitor the developments.................................................................................................................................21
6.Synthesis of Partial Analyses........................................................................................................................................22
Revisiting the system diagram....................................................................................................................................22
7. The Research Plan.......................................................................................................................................................24
Why?....................................................................................................................................................................... 24
, Summary Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems Bert Enserink 2nd edition 2022 9789462362994
What?..................................................................................................................................................................... 24
How?....................................................................................................................................................................... 24
When and where?...................................................................................................................................................24
A few cons of mathematical models are.....................................................................................................................25
Functional requirements of mathematical models are...............................................................................................25
Discrete Simulation.....................................................................................................................................................26
Time Series Analysis and Regression Models..............................................................................................................26
8.Preparing an Issue Paper.............................................................................................................................................27
The key elements........................................................................................................................................................27
Recommendations and Research Plan........................................................................................................................28
55 common test questions and answers........................................................................................................................29
Part 1: Introduction to Policy Analysis........................................................................................................................29
Part 2: Problem Formulation in Complex Environments.............................................................................................29
Part 3: Systems Analysis and Policy Design.................................................................................................................29
Part 4: Actor Analysis and Decision-Making................................................................................................................29
Part 5: Future Exploration and Scenario Planning.......................................................................................................30
Part 6: Synthesis and Research Planning....................................................................................................................30
50 most important core concepts explained..................................................................................................................33
7 handy weblinks............................................................................................................................................................35
Top trends and developments........................................................................................................................................36
, Summary Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems Bert Enserink 2nd edition 2022 9789462362994
1. Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems
Introduction
Policy analysis is about using analytical tools and structured approaches to support policy making
processes.
1.1 This book focuses on multi-actor situations, which means the actors are organized in a network.
Every actor is not able to impose their desired solution on others and cooperation between parties is
required. This leads to complications. The question is: how to support the process towards a policy
decision or plan with meaningful analysis?
1.2 The problem formulation is fundamental to the problem-solving process. Poorly formulated
problems will never be solved correctly. Nobel Prize winner Herbert Simon states that people solve
problems in four steps:
1. Intelligence, identifying a problem and examining the problem situation
2. Design, developing the alternative solutions that are possible
3. Choice, selecting an alternative
4. Implementation, putting the selected alternative into effect.
There are many more phase models mentioned by analysts. The summaries suggest a chronology, but
their initiators consider them to be logical activities. In practice, the process is regarded as a cycle in
which numerous iterations are possible. In all these phase models the problem formulation is the
element that drives the cycle. But the problem statement is often sharpened after several steps.
A policy problem meets two conditions:
1. There is the gap between an existing or expected situation and a criterion (a principle or norm)
2. There is a dilemma: an expectation that something can be done about the gap but is not
readily apparent how best to proceed.
Note: if there is no solution, there is no policy problem.
1.3 The general activities of policy analysts and their role images according to Mayer et al. are:
Activity Positive Role Image Negative Role Image
Research and analyze Independent scientist, objective A-moral researcher, technocrat
researcher
Design and recommend Independent expert (engineer), Desk expert, ‘back seat driver’
impartial adviser
Clarify arguments and values Logician or ethicist, narrator Linguistic purist, ‘journalist’
Advise Strategically Involved client adviser, client ‘Hired gun’
counselor
Democratize Democratic (issue) advocate Missionary, utopian
Mediate Facilitator, process manager Manipulator, mediator,
‘relativist’
Summary English
Parts 1 - 8
Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems
Bert Enserink
2nd edition 2022
9789462362994
For: Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management of Delft University of
Technology
+ 55 common test questions and answers
+ 50 most important core concepts explained
+ 7 handy weblinks
+ Top 10 trends and development
, Summary Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems Bert Enserink 2nd edition 2022 9789462362994
Contents
1. Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems.........................................................................................................................4
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................4
2. Problem Formulation in Complex Environments..........................................................................................................5
3. Systems Analysis...........................................................................................................................................................9
System under study......................................................................................................................................................9
System..........................................................................................................................................................................9
Develop an adequate system diagram........................................................................................................................10
4. Actor Analysis.............................................................................................................................................................12
Actor........................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Core............................................................................................................................................................................ 13
1. Formulation of a problem as a point of departure..............................................................................................13
2. Make an inventory of the actors involved...........................................................................................................13
Mapping formal relations...........................................................................................................................................14
Drafting Problem Formulations of Actors...................................................................................................................14
Analyze Interdependencies.........................................................................................................................................14
Actor Dependencies....................................................................................................................................................16
3. Confront the Initial Problem Formulation with the Findings...............................................................................17
Limitations.................................................................................................................................................................. 17
5.Exploring the future.....................................................................................................................................................18
Formal methods..........................................................................................................................................................18
Delphi method............................................................................................................................................................19
Scenarios..................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Developing contextual 8 steps....................................................................................................................................20
1. Determine the key question...............................................................................................................................20
2. Determine the factors or crucial powers in the environment of the policy field................................................20
3. Determine the driving forces or megatrends behind these factors....................................................................20
4. Arrange the factors and forces according to importance and uncertainty.........................................................20
5. Design the scenario logic....................................................................................................................................20
6. Detail the scenarios.............................................................................................................................................20
7. Evaluate the key question...................................................................................................................................20
8. Monitor the developments.................................................................................................................................21
6.Synthesis of Partial Analyses........................................................................................................................................22
Revisiting the system diagram....................................................................................................................................22
7. The Research Plan.......................................................................................................................................................24
Why?....................................................................................................................................................................... 24
, Summary Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems Bert Enserink 2nd edition 2022 9789462362994
What?..................................................................................................................................................................... 24
How?....................................................................................................................................................................... 24
When and where?...................................................................................................................................................24
A few cons of mathematical models are.....................................................................................................................25
Functional requirements of mathematical models are...............................................................................................25
Discrete Simulation.....................................................................................................................................................26
Time Series Analysis and Regression Models..............................................................................................................26
8.Preparing an Issue Paper.............................................................................................................................................27
The key elements........................................................................................................................................................27
Recommendations and Research Plan........................................................................................................................28
55 common test questions and answers........................................................................................................................29
Part 1: Introduction to Policy Analysis........................................................................................................................29
Part 2: Problem Formulation in Complex Environments.............................................................................................29
Part 3: Systems Analysis and Policy Design.................................................................................................................29
Part 4: Actor Analysis and Decision-Making................................................................................................................29
Part 5: Future Exploration and Scenario Planning.......................................................................................................30
Part 6: Synthesis and Research Planning....................................................................................................................30
50 most important core concepts explained..................................................................................................................33
7 handy weblinks............................................................................................................................................................35
Top trends and developments........................................................................................................................................36
, Summary Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems Bert Enserink 2nd edition 2022 9789462362994
1. Policy Analysis of Multi-Actor Systems
Introduction
Policy analysis is about using analytical tools and structured approaches to support policy making
processes.
1.1 This book focuses on multi-actor situations, which means the actors are organized in a network.
Every actor is not able to impose their desired solution on others and cooperation between parties is
required. This leads to complications. The question is: how to support the process towards a policy
decision or plan with meaningful analysis?
1.2 The problem formulation is fundamental to the problem-solving process. Poorly formulated
problems will never be solved correctly. Nobel Prize winner Herbert Simon states that people solve
problems in four steps:
1. Intelligence, identifying a problem and examining the problem situation
2. Design, developing the alternative solutions that are possible
3. Choice, selecting an alternative
4. Implementation, putting the selected alternative into effect.
There are many more phase models mentioned by analysts. The summaries suggest a chronology, but
their initiators consider them to be logical activities. In practice, the process is regarded as a cycle in
which numerous iterations are possible. In all these phase models the problem formulation is the
element that drives the cycle. But the problem statement is often sharpened after several steps.
A policy problem meets two conditions:
1. There is the gap between an existing or expected situation and a criterion (a principle or norm)
2. There is a dilemma: an expectation that something can be done about the gap but is not
readily apparent how best to proceed.
Note: if there is no solution, there is no policy problem.
1.3 The general activities of policy analysts and their role images according to Mayer et al. are:
Activity Positive Role Image Negative Role Image
Research and analyze Independent scientist, objective A-moral researcher, technocrat
researcher
Design and recommend Independent expert (engineer), Desk expert, ‘back seat driver’
impartial adviser
Clarify arguments and values Logician or ethicist, narrator Linguistic purist, ‘journalist’
Advise Strategically Involved client adviser, client ‘Hired gun’
counselor
Democratize Democratic (issue) advocate Missionary, utopian
Mediate Facilitator, process manager Manipulator, mediator,
‘relativist’
