Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 92

Practice Issues
this discussion. He suggested that there is never enough time to consider
all the information; that information on all possible choices is not readily
available, and that it is easier to make small changes to existing policies than
to create something entirely new. His view is that great investments have
been made in current programmes, and it is very hard to dislodge systems
that have already been in existence for a long time. Those who have had
the experience of designing and reviewing policies will attest to how the
lack of details in policy design is common and how details are sometimes
omitted, inserted or dislodged arising from last minute pressures or other
considerations. So while we do learn to be systematic in our approach to
policy designing and analysis, the process can in reality be messy.

Values and principles
Let us now consider the factors that might contribute to making the process
an iterative, complicated or complex one. Policy making requires knowledge
about values that are present in various segments of society, the possible
alternatives and the costs and benefits involved. Such information is hard
to come by. Just take the matter of values and competing interests as an
example. It is near impossible to fully assess all the values and alternatives
and to weigh all the costs and benefits involved in social welfare policy
making.
There have been attempts to gather all these information but in reality, they
are inadequate and insufficient in depth. This is so because there is always
a pressure of time and a lack of agreement about the cost-benefit analysis
which demands a consensus on the value proposition.
There is always a plan for delivering a policy. In practice however,
unanticipated factors will lead to repetitive delays in the timeline and an
even possible rush towards the end to meet delivery.
Policy making begins with a rigorous deliberation about the values that will
shape the policy design. These involve worldviews and how the various
players in policy formulation see the complex aspects of social conditions
and structures that give rise to their values and beliefs. Values and beliefs
constantly affect the policy making process as constituents, legislators,
regulators, service providers and beneficiaries often hold different and
sometimes even conflicting values and beliefs. For example, if one believes
in individual responsibility over social responsibility, one is less likely to
demand much of state subsidised welfare programmes. The design of such
programmes will then tend to hold people solely responsible for their own
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