When it comes to policymaking, public servants have traditionally learned 'on the job', with practical experience and tacit knowledge valued over theory-based learning and academic analysis. Yet increasing numbers of public servants are undertaking policy training through postgraduate qualifications and/or through short courses in policy training.
Learning Policy, Doing Policy explores how policy theory is understood by practitioners and how it influences their practice. The book brings together insights from research, teaching and practice on an issue that has so far been understudied. Contributors include Australian and international policy scholars, and current and former practitioners from government agencies. The first part of the book focuses on theorising, teaching and learning about the policymaking process; the second part outlines how current and former practitioners have employed policy process theory in the form of models or frameworks to guide and analyse policymaking in practice; and the final part examines how policy theory insights can assist policy practitioners.
In exploring how policy process theory is developed, taught and taken into policymaking practice, Learning Policy, Doing Policy draws on the expertise of academics and practitioners, and also ‘pracademics’ who often serve as a bridge between the academy and government. It draws on a range of both conceptual and applied examples. Its themes are highly relevant for both individuals and institutions, and reflect trends towards a stronger professional ethos in the Australian Public Service. This book is a timely resource for policy scholars, teaching academics, students and policy practitioners.
Foreword Acknowledgements List of figures List of tables Abbreviations Contributors Part 1. Theorising, teaching and learning about policymaking Public policy theory, practice and teaching: Investigating the interactions – Trish Mercer, Russell Ayres, Brian Head and John Wanna A quixotic quest? Making theory speak to practice – David Threlfall and Catherine Althaus What can policy theory offer busy practitioners? Investigating the Australian experience – Trish Mercer Delivering public policy programs to senior executives in government—the Australia and New Zealand School of Government 2002–18 – John Wanna How do policy professionals in New Zealand use academic research in their work? – Karl Löfgren and Sarah Hendrica Bickerton The dilemmas of managing parliament: Promoting awareness of public management theories to parliamentary administrators – Val Barrett Part 2. Putting policymaking theory into practice Public policy processes in Australia: Reflections from experience – Meredith Edwards Using the policy cycle: Practice into theory and back again – Russell Ayres Succeeding and failing in crafting environment policy: Can public policy theories help? – Kathleen Mackie Understanding the policymaking enterprise: Foucault among the bureaucrats – Craig Ritchie The practical realities of policy on the run: A practitioner's response to academic policy frameworks – Louise Gilding Documenting the link between policy theory and practice in a government department: A map of sea without any land – Andrew Maurer Part 3. How can theory better inform practice and vice versa? Taking lessons from policy theory into practice – Paul Cairney Synthesising models, theories and frameworks for public policy: Implications for the future – Allan McConnell Public policy theory, practice and skills: Advancing the debate – John Wanna, Russell Ayres, Brian Head and Trish Mercer
