In the last decade, the Commonwealth Government has relied increasingly on policy-induced consortia to implement its education policy initiatives. The study focused on education policy pertaining to citizenship education, and specifically on the recommendations of the Civics Expert Group's 1994 report Whereas the people...Civics and Citizenship Education. The then Commonwealth Government called for policy-induced consortia to submit applications as a means to implement the report's recommendations. As a result, the Western Australian Consortium for Citizenship Education was formed. The Consortiums submission for a grant to assist teachers to prepare curriculum materials for citizenship education was successful. The study examined the decisions made by the Consortium members in relation to the curriculum materials project.The study was informed by an examination of literature pertaining to citizenship and citizenship education, the implementation of public policy, and group and curriculum decision-making. The review of the literature concerning the constructs of 'citizen' highlighted the contested nature of citizenship. In turn, this is reflected in the debates about the nature of citizenship education. As well, the literature review revealed many models of policy implementation and group curriculum decision-making do not adequately reflect the complexities and realities of group decision-making processes. The models often ignore the socio-political dynamics of the group, particularly in a policy-induced consortium, which exists for a specific and limited purpose, where members owe allegiance to their institutions rather than the consortium and where the consortium is accountable to a government department for the management of the project.A case study approach using qualitative methods was used. These methods and approaches are most likely to capture and interpret ++ / the humanness of group decision-making. Moreover, they take into account the importance of the values each member of the Consortium brought to the group and recognise that each member constructed his/her meaning as a result of social interaction with other Consortium members.The case study focused on a detailed examination of the work of the Western Australian Consortium for Citizenship Education and especially on the sub-group of the Project Management Committee over eighteen months. The notion of 'critical decisions' was used to analyse the Consortium's decision-making. Each critical decision had significant consequences for the ongoing work of the Consortium. The nature of the Consortium's decision-making highlighted the overwhelming importance of social dynamics over curriculum decision-making.The intentions of the study were to build towards a more complete understanding of the socio-political nature of group curriculum decision-making; to contribute to theorising about the humanness of group curriculum decision-making; and to provide an informed perspective about the significance of the Commonwealth Government's intervention in education through the mechanism of policy-induced consortia.The thesis makes a contribution to the socio-political dimension of group curriculum decision-making in federations. It illustrates that curriculum policy delivery is a socio-political process focussing on interpersonal relationships rather than a rational or deliberative process based on educational outcomes.

政策執行研究自肇始至今均以實證研究途徑為主，實證途徑的學術目的在建構執行的中程理論，然目前執行研究仍處於多元主義的狀態，建立中程理論的基礎必須從概念著手，實證途徑的基本假定忽略了執行研究中的主要變數「人」的影響力，執行研究的領域自限在具體的領域中，執行研究總是一種直線式的行政過程，明顯的忽略執行過程中人心的影響力，筆者以為執行研究應採納詮釋途徑的認識邏輯，以人為主的研究途徑，從基本假定（人性論、認識論、方法論、本體論）上從新預設，將執行實體納入人類心靈活動的領域，改變執行研究的思惟策略，對執行的概念提出更周延的定位。詮釋途徑所建立的執行觀，相對的也有一套完整的研究過程與研究方法，本文中有簡單的介紹，對執行研究而言，研究方法的選擇固然必須慎重，但掌握執行研究的對象才是研究的開始，筆者引用美國學者Dr. Yanow的符號理論，將符號視為執行研究的對象，從符號所代表的意義來查探人類集體行動的本質、執行組織的變動，引用三個個案來說明符號作為執行研究對象所得的執行觀點以印證詮釋途徑的執行觀。

有感於地球環境危機日益惡化，臺灣河川污染日益嚴重，因此以水質保護 政策執行過程為題，希望能提供整治淡水河的具體政策建議，整合 Top- down 和 Bottom-up的對立解釋俾對政策執行理論的發展有所助益。研究 結果獲致下列結論：一．執行網絡所包含的組織單位和解決政策問題的方 案，較多於執行結構。但是如果缺乏研究資源的配合，面對複雜龐大的公 共政策時，勢必因為研究資源的匱乏而無法掌握執行過程的相關單位和解 決方案，而成為執行研究的嚴重限制。二．淡水河系屬污染整治計畫屬於 保護管制性政策，涉及不同目標利益的團體或組織間之複雜互動。明確的 政策目標，使反對勢力有明確的攻擊對象，易於觸發或整合反對勢力。淡 水河整治計畫個案，不僅目標明確清楚，而且相關首長作下強烈政策宣示 ，使得難於納入因應經社環境變遷而新增需要的目標。三．變動快速的環 境中，複雜政策的執行必須賦予執行者相當的裁量權，但是必須在目標一 致、利益相容的前提下，才能有助於執行過程的順利成功。否則，行政裁 量的空間越大，越容易給執行單位扭曲目標、推諉卸責的空間，使協調整 合更形困難，導致執行過程的延宕和失敗。四．淡水河系污染整治計畫能 否順利執行的關鍵，在於能否建立行政單位協調、管制的基本能力。透過 「能力建立」政策工具的運作，可以增進行政機關和個人的協調和管制能 力，但是唯有「系統變革」政策工具，才能根本解決相關執行單位間的目 標利益衝突、協調困難、缺乏執行意願等等問題。透過「系統變革」政策 工具的運用，創造或安排一個組織文化、利益和目標都能與淡水河整治合 意的新機關（ sympathetic agency），如此才能具備基本的行政管制和 協調能力，命令管制和經濟誘因政策工具也才能有運作的基本環境。 經 由前述研究發現，本文提出下列建議：一．執行研究的建議１．更科學的 研究設計２．納入解釋論和批判論以分析資料３．研究資源需充份配合運 用二．淡水河整治的政策建議建議成立專責河川管理的單位，不論是區域 河川管理局，或是流域河川管理局，都比較可能有整體性的河川整治和水 資源保護政策設計，而且也較能有效落實執行。

我國自民國五十四年行政院頒佈「民生主義現階段社會政策」以來，將社 區發展列為七大社會福利措施之一。社區發展是二次世界大戰以後由聯合 國所倡導的一項世界性運動，透過政府與民眾的合作，改善社區的經濟、 文化及社會情況。我國早年即有社區發展工作，近年來在鄉村改善社區環 境，物質性的基礎工程建設已有具體的成效，然而民眾自助互助，提昇精 神、文化層面的工作始終推動困難。社區發展究竟為以政府推動為主的工 作成果，或是民眾據以群策群力之工作方法，仍未定論。近年來，社區發 展在整體施政項目中政策目標模糊、法制化不足、資源缺乏、民眾依賴等 問題，與其他兒童、老人、殘障福利之發展相較，未能得到相同的重視。 本研究從政策執行的理論探討影響社區發展政策執行得六大因素，分別是 ︰政策目標、法制化、資源、溝通、執行機構與執行人員心理意向。以過 程評估的方法分析社區發展六大政策執行因素的狀況，以及對社區發展結 果回應度、影響程度，同時評估目前社區發展所規定工作項目其需要性、 滿意度情形。本研究以高雄市社區發展為例，除探討整體社區發展政策執 行概況外，並以社區理事會之理事長（或理事）、總幹事、社會局及區公 所行政人員等社區發展業務執行人員為對象，發出 192份問卷，回收有效 問卷 130份，以政策執行因素之模型分析，主要結果如下︰一、社區發展 工作項目中，政府主導的基礎建設辦理較多也較有效，生產福利建設及精 神倫理建設較為不足。二、社區發展的政策目標普遍為執行人員所接受， 但學歷愈高者同意度愈低；社區發展法制化程度為中等，但現行「社區發 展工作綱要」仍屬行政命令，約束力不夠，工作協調困難；社區發展資源 充裕性不高，尤其經費、人手不足；工作人員與居民、機構之溝通情況良 好；社區理事會的工作人員多屬兼職，分工多屬形式，功能難以發揮；執 行人員的心理意向是大致呈正向的。三、社政人員對政策目標、溝通、執 行機構健全、心理意向等因素之同意度均低於理事長及總幹事。四、執行 人員普遍認為對社區生活改善有益，但對於發掘社區資源的成效較為不滿 意；社政人員對於社區發展回應性的評估分數顯著低於理事長及總幹事。 五、社區發展六大執行因素當中，「執行人員心理意向」、「政策目標」 與「執行機構健全度」對於社區發展回應性的解釋力為63％，三者形成對 回應性最佳預測迴歸方程式。其中最重要的因素為「政策目標」，其次為 「執行人員心理意向」，再次為「執行機構健全度」。

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the implementation of a political aim – formulatedfrom a context of sustainable development. In 2006 both the Swedish national Parliament andthe municipality of Växjö (among others) stated that 25% of publically served food wouldstem from organic production by the end of 2010. The thesis investigates the outcome of theimplementation of this policy in a local perspective - looking at one part of the public sectorby focusing on four differently organized schools within Växjö municipality. School food in Sweden has a specific institutional setting. It holds the almost unique statusas a non-charged, legal right to all pupils in the compulsory school system. School food as apublic good is affected by the EU legislation of public procurement. The thesis studies theoverall institutional framework (i.e. legislation and regulations) fundamental to school food.With the institutional framework in mind the thesis also describes different organizationalactivities connected to school food. Thus the thesis involves four geographical levels: Theregional (EU), the national, the local and the individual level. The latter is defined in theorganized context from a number of individual professionals. Some of these individuals arefurther considered as so called street level bureaucrats – officials sandwiched between superiorsand their clients. The thesis builds a conceptual framework based on institutional, organizational and streetlevel theory together with policy analysis. Methodologically the thesis is formed around andcarried out as a local case study through a number of semi-structured qualitative interviews.The empirical and analytical part of the thesis is further structured around the three theoreticalconcepts. From the thesis´ purpose three guiding questions were outlined. The main implications of the thesis are that a number of factors were found to be involvedin the policy implementation. The most significant factors for the policy implementation arefirstly the formulation of the political goal, and secondly the individual professionals actuallybuying the food for the schools. As long as the policy of the school food is non-forcing (i.e. anaverage aim of the public sector, and not included in the legislation) the final outcome of thefood depends on the decisions made by the buyer. There is disagreement of the policy intention and of whether organic food is more sustainablethan other food. Thus I end the thesis by suggesting a change of concepts if the politicalaim is to reach sustainability. I encourage a system to control the food´s total ecological footprint.This would be achieved by formulating the policy around a suggested level of the ecologicalfootprint. The level would be calculated and set where experts say it´s in accordancewith sustainable development. From this the street level bureaucrats can sum up the componentsof the lunch they buy and serve. No matter if the individual product is labeled organic,local, conventional, or… This would – according to me – improve the chances for Växjö actually to live up to itslogo: the greenest city in Europe. At least this idea could awake a debate. / Opposition kl. 13.15

Ideas about water use and ethics have been linked for many thousands of years. In this millennium, water resources remain a primary area of concern throughout the world, including such issues as shortages, supply, flooding, quality, restoration, allocation and regulation. Today, electronic environmental news and specialty websites contain a breadth of information on current water resources conflicts and issues throughout the world. In many parts of the world, water quantity is decreasing and water quality is worsening, lack of access to improved water supplies is decreasing, as is access to basic sanitation. Water challenges relating to water quantity and water quality are increasingly common in Canada and the United States due to water resources being under increasing pressure from population growth, economic activity and intensifying competition for the water among users. Faced with these challenges, humans are confronted with momentous decisions. Before making more decisions that will have an influence over water resources, and in response to repeated calls for a water ethic, this research takes the perspective that it is necessary to explore the ethical intentions of decision-makers with respect to water resources legislation and policy in Canada. The ultimate goal is to define a set of principles for a proposed water ethic that could and should be implemented at the municipal level of government in Canada. A review of academic and professional literature and a mixed methods research approach comparing two case study areas was used to gain a baseline understanding of the potential influences of underlying ethical frameworks on policy makers in Calgary, Alberta and Guelph, Ontario. A proposed water ethic, containing a set of principles compiled from ethical considerations for water use in academic and professional literature, was also developed and presented to case study participants. Participants provided feedback on their strength of agreement with each principle, thoughts on modifications, improvements and/or deletions of any principle, and implementation considerations of the proposed water ethic at the municipal level of government. The results indicate that case study participants in both areas apply a variety of ethical frameworks when making professional decisions about water resources management, and when preparing water legislation and policy. A review of relevant legislation, policies, documents and strategies in the case study areas supports this conclusion. In particular, components of the Consequentialist ethical framework (a perspective that can be associated with sustainable development and sustainability) are most often acknowledged in the statements of intent of the participants and water resource legislation and policies. Respondents also indicated that value positions associated with the Intrinsic Value ethical framework influenced policy preparation and decision-making; however, the ethical considerations associated with this framework are not as obvious in the language and intent of relevant legislation, plans, documents, and strategies. The case study participants in both areas supported all six proposed principles of the proposed water ethic and offered only minor modifications to the presented wording and intent. The endorsed principles of the proposed water ethic are: (1) allocate sufficient water to maintain and enhance ecosystem integrity; (2) establish conservation and efficiency measures as a priority over new supply initiatives in water resources planning; (3) meet basic human needs and enhance equity; (4)establish open and participative decision-making processes; (5) identify and seek to obtain multiple sustainability benefits from water-centered initiatives; and, (6) explicitly acknowledge system complexity and emphasize precaution. The feedback from the participants about the proposed water ethic, in association with the results of the ethical frameworks, informed the eight implementation recommendations, including: (1) entrench a water ethic vision in Provincial and municipal legislation; (2) work from within existing governance structures and institutional arrangements; (3) use an incremental model of decision-making; (4) provide specific policy examples for each principle within a water ethic; (5) include realistic and measurable targets within the policies; (6) accept that all six water ethic principles are unlikely to be accepted at once; (7) ensure the overall vision of the water ethic, principles, associated examples, and measureable targets, are defensible; and, (8)acknowledge the importance of strategy. The recommendations acknowledge that while the proposed water ethic is presented as a package and each principle is valuable, conflict and trade-offs may occur during the implementation process. The recommendations are therefore pragmatic and take into account the current governance structures and institutional arrangements. There is a growing recognition that understanding the underlying ethical perspectives that influence decision-makers may contribute to more effective water resources management legislation and policy. This research adds to this body of knowledge by showing that it is possible to identify ethical frameworks, extract the defining characteristics associated with each framework, and use case studies to suggest which ethical frameworks assert varying degrees of influence. This link between theory and practice may help organizations recognize what ethical considerations influence decision-making and identify the strengths and limitations of these ethical approaches to managing water resources. In addition, prior to this study, research had only been conducted into the identification of principles for the ethical use of water and not into the potential for implementation of a realistic and desirable water ethic that reflects sustainability and lasting well-being at the municipal level of government in Canada. Several opportunities exist to build on this research. They include (1) investigate if the ethical intent of legislation and policy related to water resources management is put into practice, (2) identify other ethical frameworks that may apply to decision-making, (3) focus on political decision-makers and their claims and intentions about water use, (4) test the implementation of the water ethic proposed in this study, and (5) investigate how to integrate ethical considerations about water into checklists and protocols related to land use development, professional codes of conduct and standards, institutional and organizational training programs, performance measures for official plans, and as standard components for municipal council reports and ministerial presentations. This exploratory research concludes that policy makers are willing to become more aware of their underlying ethical underpinnings and to learn how ethical considerations embedded in legislation and policy have the potential to exert significant influence over the behaviour of current and future water users.

<p>The generation of large volumes of solid and liquid wastes in urban and periurban areas of Ghana is a big problem for the people and government of Ghana. It contributes to the outbreak of many diseases in the country such as malaria, diarrhoea and typhoid fever. In managing the situation, a new concept called ecological sanitation (ecosan), which focuses on reuse of waste, has been introduced in the country. The objectives of the thesis were to criticise the environmental sanitation policy&nbsp / by analysing its content in relation to policy implementation arrangements, to discuss programmes and projects identified under the policy, to critically examine the implementation of an ecosan project as a way of achieving the goal and objectives by outlining its implementation processes, prospects and challenges, and to make appropriate recommendations. The analysis and discussion of the thesis were based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data, on one hand, were collected on the prospects and challenges that exist in the implementation of ecosan projects from Kumasi metropolis. The secondary data, on the other hand, were from&nbsp / books, journals and websites. From the research analysis, it emerged that the policy allows the implementation of many sanitation projects including ecosan. Secondly, stakeholders see ecosanto be a good approach to reduce waste generation in the country. However, the main challenges that exist in promoting the concept are inadequate financial support, unavailability of implementation guidelines and lack of knowledge about concept details. It is therefore argued that financial support, implementation guidelines and awareness-creation activities should be available in the implementation of ecosan in the metropolis. Government, private organisations, companies and individuals should each contribute their quota in the support and processes.</p>

Food and nutrition are an integral part of daily life and can have an effect on social, cognitive, and physical development as well as the prevention of negative health outcomes. The development of the School Food and Beverage Policy was targeted to both elementary and secondary schools in Ontario as a proactive approach to health and wellbeing by eliminating the sale of foods that do not meet nutrition criteria. School food policies can play an important role in students’ overall health and well-being, but little is known about schools’ readiness for implementing these policies. The purpose of this study was to examine schools’ readiness to implement the policy with an organizational readiness lens. This study consisted of a policy analysis and qualitative interviews with 8 administrators who were directly involved in the planning and preparation for the policy and 4 teachers who were recommended by their respective principals as key stakeholders in assisting in the process. Policy analysis uncovered the inconsistencies within the policy, while interview data revealed emergent themes surrounding: pre-implementation planning, policy technicalities, and challenges of confronting implementation. The variability in perspectives of readiness illustrates the complexity of preparing for policy implementation across schools and even within schools. Findings suggest that there is a need for more effective dissemination, in-service training, and education for school stakeholders in order to engage and stimulate interest and compliance of the nutrition standards. Having appealing and nutritious foods that students will enjoy is an area that requires more work. Developing supportive partnerships within and outside the school to reinforce consistent messages to students is also an area that needs attention. The results of this research serve as a framework for potential solutions to school nutrition policies, strategies, and interventions and may also inform key stakeholders and policy makers in adapting and refining policies as a means of supporting the implementation process for successful outcomes. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2012-05-25 15:28:52.064

The purpose of this research was to examine the implementation of Georgia's Medicaid family planning program, known as Planning for Healthy Babies or P4HB. This program is the first such program to provide both family planning services and inter-pregnancy care services through a Medicaid expansion to low-income, uninsured women. An evaluative case study design was employed using mixed methods. These methods incorporated process measures to study the implementation of P4HB and to assess whether P4HB was implemented as planned We incorporated theory from the policy implementation and health care access literatures to understand what served as facilitators or barriers to successful implementation. Findings suggest that despite precise goals and objectives, formal guidance about the program did not incorporate clear implementation planning. Many stakeholders, including advocates, providers, and representatives from implementing agencies felt left out of the implementation process and did not feel invested in the program. Considerable confusion existed among eligible clients and providers about the nature and scope of the P4HB program. This lack of awareness and understanding about P4HB likely contributed to the program's low enrollment and participation in the first year of its implementation. As many states prepare to expand their Medicaid programs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), this study provides important lessons for policy planning and implementation.

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