Transition to Evaluation

Evaluation closes the loop of the public policy cycle. Thus, evaluation reflects back upon policy formulation as well as implementation, but points forward to the next round of the cycle, returning to the agenda setting stage.

Evaluation, when done effectively, professionally, and honestly, stands above the fray of public policy. More likely, however, a thorough, objective, scientific assessment of public policy will not happen. When it does, due to political as well as epistemological limitations, the results are not guaranteed to be completely certain, but still can be suggestive. Yet decisions, once again under uncertainty, must be made. Here are just some of the questions which might be considered within the framework of the cycle:

Was the policy well designed and theoretically sound? Did it have goals and were those goals met? Such questions refer to policy analysis and formulation.
Was the policy adminstered effectively? Did it do what was intended? This harkens back to implementation.
Was the policy provided with funds commensurate with the tasks? Should its budget go up or down? By how much? This gets us back to budgeting.

Given what is known, or whatever impression has been made, what should be done next? This cycles back to agenda, closing the loop of the public policy cycle.