PASSMATE TUTORIALS
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL GUIDE FROM UNISA. THE FRAMEWORK IS
NOT PREPARED NOR APPROVED BY UNISA, RATHER REPRESENTS A POSSIBLE
SOLUTION TO THE TASK CONSISTENT WITH THEORY. THIS ASSIGNMENT IS
INTENDED TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN GETTING STARTED WITH THEIR ASSIGNMENT,
AND IN NO CASE THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD BE USED FOR CHEATING. WE BELIEVE
THIS WILL BE A GOOD STARTING POINT AS IT WAS PREPARED BY OUR TEAM OF
PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE TUTORS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, AND IT WAS
PREPARED USING VARIOUS SOURCES. ANY SIMILARITY WITH ANY EXISTING
THEORY OR DISCUSSION BY OTHER AUTHORS IS EXCUSED. THE AUTHORS
HOWEVER DO NOT CLAIM MONOPOLY TO KNOWLEDGE HENCE MODIFICATION OF
THE ANSWERS CONTAINED IN THIS FRAMEWORK MAY NOT BE PROHIBITED AS IT
CONTRIBUTES TO EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE. FOR ANY FURTHER GUIDELINE
ABOUT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE AND THE MODULE IN GENERAL,
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS.
WE ASSIST WITH OTHER MODULES INCLUDING:
ECSs, FACs, MACs, MNGs, INTs, TRLs, HMEMS, PRMs, PROs, MNBs, DSC, QMI, MNMs,
MNO, MNPs, FIN, PUBs, MNMs, RESEARCH among others.
WE OFFER CLASSES, ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES, EXAMINATION PREPARATION,
RESEARCH AND RESEARCH PROPOSALS, DISSERTATION EDITING etc.
OTHER THAN UNISA, WE ALSO ASSIST STUDENTS AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS
INCLUDING MANCOSA, REGENT, REGEYNESES, BOSTON, STADIO, OLG, UJ, UP etc
For any enquiries the following numbers can be used for calling, SMS, WhatsApp and
telegram
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
, PASSMATE TUTORIALS
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 3
2. CONCEPTUALISING POLICY ANALYSIS AND THE ROLE OF MODELS ........... 4
2.1 Understanding Policy Analysis ............................................................................. 4
2.2 The Role and Significance of Models in Policy Analysis ...................................... 6
3. DESCRIPTIVE MODELS OF POLICY ANALYSIS: FOCUSING ON THE POLICY
PROCESS.................................................................................................................. 9
3.1 Introduction to Descriptive Models of Policy Analysis........................................... 9
3.2 The Functional Process Model ........................................................................... 10
3.3 The Elite/Mass Model ......................................................................................... 11
3.4 The Group Model ............................................................................................... 13
3.5 The Systems Model............................................................................................ 14
3.6 The Institutional Model ....................................................................................... 15
4. PRESCRIPTIVE MODELS OF POLICY ANALYSIS: FOCUSING ON POLICY
OUTCOMES ............................................................................................................ 16
4.1 The Rational-Comprehensive Model .................................................................. 16
4.2 The Incremental Model....................................................................................... 17
4.3 The Mixed-Scanning Model ................................................................................ 17
5. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS ...................... 18
6. EVALUATION OF STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS IN ADDRESSING COMPLEX
POLICY CHALLENGES ........................................................................................... 18
7. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 19
LIST OF REFERENCES .......................................................................................... 21
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
, PASSMATE TUTORIALS
1. INTRODUCTION
Public policy constitutes one of the most important instruments through which
governments respond to societal needs, allocate scarce resources, and pursue
developmental objectives. In contemporary governance environments characterised
by globalisation, technological transformation, climate change, economic uncertainty,
public health crises, and increasing citizen expectations, the formulation and
implementation of effective public policy have become increasingly complex.
Consequently, policy analysis has emerged as a critical function within Public
Administration because it enables policymakers to understand public problems,
evaluate policy alternatives, and assess policy outcomes before and after
implementation (Howlett & Cashore, 2021). Policy analysis may be defined as a
systematic process of generating, evaluating, and communicating information relevant
to policy decisions. According to Dunn (2021), policy analysis integrates scientific
inquiry, political judgement, and administrative expertise to improve decision-making
within government institutions. Within this process, analytical models serve as
conceptual frameworks that assist policymakers and analysts in understanding policy
dynamics and predicting policy consequences. The study guide classifies policy
analysis models into two broad categories: descriptive models and prescriptive
models. Descriptive models focus primarily on explaining how policies are formulated
and implemented, whereas prescriptive models seek to identify how policy decisions
ought to be made to achieve desired societal outcomes (Hanekom, 1992). While
descriptive models emphasise understanding political realities and institutional
behaviour, prescriptive models emphasise rationality, efficiency, effectiveness, and
optimal decision-making. This essay critically analyses the descriptive and prescriptive
models of policy analysis in Public Administration. The discussion examines the
conceptual foundations of each model, evaluates their practical application in
contemporary public governance, compares their theoretical assumptions, and
assesses their strengths and limitations in addressing complex public-sector
challenges. Particular attention is given to examples from the South African public
sector to illustrate the practical relevance of these models in policy formulation and
implementation.
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL GUIDE FROM UNISA. THE FRAMEWORK IS
NOT PREPARED NOR APPROVED BY UNISA, RATHER REPRESENTS A POSSIBLE
SOLUTION TO THE TASK CONSISTENT WITH THEORY. THIS ASSIGNMENT IS
INTENDED TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN GETTING STARTED WITH THEIR ASSIGNMENT,
AND IN NO CASE THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD BE USED FOR CHEATING. WE BELIEVE
THIS WILL BE A GOOD STARTING POINT AS IT WAS PREPARED BY OUR TEAM OF
PROFESSIONAL PRIVATE TUTORS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, AND IT WAS
PREPARED USING VARIOUS SOURCES. ANY SIMILARITY WITH ANY EXISTING
THEORY OR DISCUSSION BY OTHER AUTHORS IS EXCUSED. THE AUTHORS
HOWEVER DO NOT CLAIM MONOPOLY TO KNOWLEDGE HENCE MODIFICATION OF
THE ANSWERS CONTAINED IN THIS FRAMEWORK MAY NOT BE PROHIBITED AS IT
CONTRIBUTES TO EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE. FOR ANY FURTHER GUIDELINE
ABOUT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE AND THE MODULE IN GENERAL,
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS.
WE ASSIST WITH OTHER MODULES INCLUDING:
ECSs, FACs, MACs, MNGs, INTs, TRLs, HMEMS, PRMs, PROs, MNBs, DSC, QMI, MNMs,
MNO, MNPs, FIN, PUBs, MNMs, RESEARCH among others.
WE OFFER CLASSES, ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES, EXAMINATION PREPARATION,
RESEARCH AND RESEARCH PROPOSALS, DISSERTATION EDITING etc.
OTHER THAN UNISA, WE ALSO ASSIST STUDENTS AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS
INCLUDING MANCOSA, REGENT, REGEYNESES, BOSTON, STADIO, OLG, UJ, UP etc
For any enquiries the following numbers can be used for calling, SMS, WhatsApp and
telegram
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
, PASSMATE TUTORIALS
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 3
2. CONCEPTUALISING POLICY ANALYSIS AND THE ROLE OF MODELS ........... 4
2.1 Understanding Policy Analysis ............................................................................. 4
2.2 The Role and Significance of Models in Policy Analysis ...................................... 6
3. DESCRIPTIVE MODELS OF POLICY ANALYSIS: FOCUSING ON THE POLICY
PROCESS.................................................................................................................. 9
3.1 Introduction to Descriptive Models of Policy Analysis........................................... 9
3.2 The Functional Process Model ........................................................................... 10
3.3 The Elite/Mass Model ......................................................................................... 11
3.4 The Group Model ............................................................................................... 13
3.5 The Systems Model............................................................................................ 14
3.6 The Institutional Model ....................................................................................... 15
4. PRESCRIPTIVE MODELS OF POLICY ANALYSIS: FOCUSING ON POLICY
OUTCOMES ............................................................................................................ 16
4.1 The Rational-Comprehensive Model .................................................................. 16
4.2 The Incremental Model....................................................................................... 17
4.3 The Mixed-Scanning Model ................................................................................ 17
5. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS ...................... 18
6. EVALUATION OF STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS IN ADDRESSING COMPLEX
POLICY CHALLENGES ........................................................................................... 18
7. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 19
LIST OF REFERENCES .......................................................................................... 21
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
, PASSMATE TUTORIALS
1. INTRODUCTION
Public policy constitutes one of the most important instruments through which
governments respond to societal needs, allocate scarce resources, and pursue
developmental objectives. In contemporary governance environments characterised
by globalisation, technological transformation, climate change, economic uncertainty,
public health crises, and increasing citizen expectations, the formulation and
implementation of effective public policy have become increasingly complex.
Consequently, policy analysis has emerged as a critical function within Public
Administration because it enables policymakers to understand public problems,
evaluate policy alternatives, and assess policy outcomes before and after
implementation (Howlett & Cashore, 2021). Policy analysis may be defined as a
systematic process of generating, evaluating, and communicating information relevant
to policy decisions. According to Dunn (2021), policy analysis integrates scientific
inquiry, political judgement, and administrative expertise to improve decision-making
within government institutions. Within this process, analytical models serve as
conceptual frameworks that assist policymakers and analysts in understanding policy
dynamics and predicting policy consequences. The study guide classifies policy
analysis models into two broad categories: descriptive models and prescriptive
models. Descriptive models focus primarily on explaining how policies are formulated
and implemented, whereas prescriptive models seek to identify how policy decisions
ought to be made to achieve desired societal outcomes (Hanekom, 1992). While
descriptive models emphasise understanding political realities and institutional
behaviour, prescriptive models emphasise rationality, efficiency, effectiveness, and
optimal decision-making. This essay critically analyses the descriptive and prescriptive
models of policy analysis in Public Administration. The discussion examines the
conceptual foundations of each model, evaluates their practical application in
contemporary public governance, compares their theoretical assumptions, and
assesses their strengths and limitations in addressing complex public-sector
challenges. Particular attention is given to examples from the South African public
sector to illustrate the practical relevance of these models in policy formulation and
implementation.
CONTACT PASSMATE TUTORIALS @061 262 1185/068 053 8213/0717 513 144
