Planning and the policy cycle “Planning is a public function. Its purpose is to promote a more convenient, attractive and equitable pattern of development than the kind of development produced through unregulated markets” (Self in Gleeson and Low2000, 217).

Planning and the policy cycle Government - formal institutions of public discussion, planning, decision-making and administration Governance - the set of formal and informal institutions within and beyond government, providing the conditions for ordered rule and collective action

Structures and functions of government Government has three official structural components –legislative, judicial, executive The Executive –Ministerial and agency activities in chains of accountability –Cabinet function clearinghouse information exchange arbitration decisions coordination guardianship of strategies

Structures and functions of government Public servants –providers of service delivery, administration, policy advice to Ministers and Parliament –‘apolitical’ Government also has three functional components –government as politics - politicians, parties, advisors –government as policy - goals, strategies, directions embracing wider public sector –government as administration - service delivery, law enforcement

Planning and the policy cycle Planning as domain of governance concerned with provision of services Planning as approach to governance seeking democratic, equitable and effective steering of state apparatus for benefit of citizens The role of public policy course of action adopted using rational means; government; polity

Planning and the policy cycle Public policy is intentional and designed decisions, consequences structured, orderly political and administrative dynamic problem/process/innovation orientation complex value laden created amidst uncertainty (risk)

Planning and the policy cycle

Planning and policy actors “Policy is a discontinuous series of actions, played out simultaneously across multiple arenas, given unity only through the selection and synthesis of a narrator” (Bridgman and Davis, 1998, 27) Who is the narrator? Who speaks for whom, in what contexts, using what language, demeanour and style, to what ends and with what effects?