SubjectsSubjects(version: 964)
Course, academic year 2024/2025
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Policy Analysis - JSM691
Title: Policy Analysis
Guaranteed by: Department of Public and Social Policy (23-KVSP)
Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
Actual: from 2024
Semester: winter
E-Credits: 9
Examination process: winter s.:
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/1, Ex [HT]
Capacity: unlimited / unknown (20)
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: taught
Language: English
Teaching methods: full-time
Additional information: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=3973
Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan
enabled for web enrollment
priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
Guarantor: prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
Teacher(s): Mirna Jusić, M.A., Ph.D.
Mgr. Martin Nekola, Ph.D.
prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D.
Class: Courses for incoming students
Incompatibility : JSM726
Is incompatible with: JSM726
Annotation -
This course is designed to help students learn how to identify some public policy problem and prepare, design and select public policy measure or program to mitigate/solve it. The course will focus mainly on analytical approaches and methods that are intended to guide policy design and structure policy choice. Students will hone their ability to work in a team, analyze policy issues and develop a concise report of their findings and recommendations.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Policy analysis is the art, craft, and science of providing problem-solving advice to managers in public sector, policy-makers, or citizens. Policy analysis requires several distinct sets of skills: technical understanding of analytical tools, understanding the policy context, and the ability to produce and communicate practical advice. The overall aim of the course is to increase student’s capacity to contribute to identifying, analyzing and assessing policy problems and options and ultimately to generate arguments for alternative policy options.
Last update: Jusić Mirna, M.A., Ph.D. (26.02.2024)
Literature

Bardach, E., & Patashnik, E. M. (2016). A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path to more effective problem solving (Fifth edition). CQ Press/SAGE.
Dunn, W. N. (2018). Public policy analysis: An integrated approach (Sixth Edition). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Patton, C. V., & Sawicki, D. S. (2013). Basic methods of policy analysis and planning (3rd ed). Pearson.

Last update: Jusić Mirna, M.A., Ph.D. (26.02.2024)
Requirements to the exam

The course project is designed to allow students to work in teams on given policy issue and, simultaneously, prepare an individual policy analysis report. At the first session, policy issues for students’ project will be introduced and discussed. Students then set up teams and select an issue according to their preferences. Based on the issue statement, each team (2-4 students) will define a joint policy problem which will be presented in class (see the course schedule). Before a team can continue with the project, a problem definition must be approved by the course leader.

Each student is required to write an interim project report and a final project paper. Students will report their progress during the course. In the interim oral presentation, the student should briefly summarize the problem, objectives, policy goals and criteria and possible policy solutions.

Students are also required to elaborate and present two home exercises. Details of individual exercises will be discussed at given sessions. Assignments not completed on time will automatically receive a grade off unless: a) there is sufficient reason for the lateness; b) course leader have been consulted prior to the time that the requirement is due; and c) course leader agree to the lateness, and the time the requirement will be fulfilled. All three conditions must be present.

Students have three due dates for the final project paper. First two terms can be used for obtaining informal feedback. In such case, indicate in the document title that it is a draft not to be formally evaluated. The third term is a strict deadline, and all submitted documents will be checked for plagiarism and graded. All version must be sent to martin.nekola@fsv.cuni.cz. If the final report is not submitted by the third deadline, the student fails to pass the course.

Classification according to Dean’s Provision no. 17/2018 (https://fsv.cuni.cz/opatreni-dekanky-c-172018aj)

Activities and points 

Activity / Outputs (max. points)
Interim project report + oral presentation (20)
Final project paper (60)
Home exercises (20)
Total 100
      
Grading

Grade (Points)
A – excellent (91 – 100)
B – very good (81 – 90)
C – good  (71 – 80)
D – satisfactory (61 – 70)
E – sufficient (51 – 60)
F – insufficient/failed (0 – 50)

Last update: Nekola Martin, Mgr., Ph.D. (03.09.2024)
Syllabus -

Course Description

Traditional policy analysis starts with a careful definition of the policy problem, proceeds through the set of steps listed below, and culminates with the policy report. The course will spend time on each of these steps.

1) Define and frame a policy problem.

2) Assemble evidence, identify the key stakeholders.

3) Identify or construct alternatives.

4) Identify and select the relevant criteria for assessment.

5) Project and assess the outcomes for each alternative.

6) Confront the trade-offs.

7) Recommend the best alternative.

8) Tell your story – communicate your recommendation and the reasoning behind it to a client/decision-maker.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Policy analysis is the art, craft, and science of providing problem-solving advice to managers in public sector, policy-makers, or citizens. Policy analysis requires several distinct sets of skills: technical understanding of analytical tools, understanding the policy context, and the ability to produce and communicate practical advice. The overall aim of the course is to increase student’s capacity to contribute to identifying, analyzing and assessing policy problems and options and ultimately to generate arguments for alternative policy options.

Students will gain experience in:

  • Defining, assessing, and describing policy problems.
  • Identifying policy goals and criteria to assess possible strategies.
  • Crafting appropriate policy options by borrowing, adapting, and creating.
  • Analyzing and predicting the effects of alternative policy options.
  • Communicating policy advice in written and oral presentations.
  • Considering barriers to policy implementation.
  • Designing evaluation of policy/program impact.
Last update: Jusić Mirna, M.A., Ph.D. (26.02.2024)
 
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