GRADUATE SCHOOL

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM

MPA 604 - POLICY ANALYSIS AND DECISION MAKING
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
CLASS OF DR. GAYE ROMA-MONDIGO

NAME:` ID NUMBER:
BATCH NAME:
DATE OF EXAMINATION:

INSTRUCTIONS:

COMPREHENSIVELY ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.

1. Discuss the key stages of the policy analysis process. How does each stage contribute to a
comprehensive understanding of a policy issue and the development of effective policy
recommendations? Briefly explain each stage and use one example of a policy implemented
from your organization.

The key stages of policy Analysis are first, Verify, define, and detail the problem.
Second, establish evaluation criteria. Third, identify alternative policies. Fourth, evaluate
alternative policies. Fifth, display and distinguish among alternative policies and the last or the
sixth stage is to monitor the implemented policy.
For the first Stage, the verification definition and detailing the problem of the policy
analyst is like the process of backward problem solving, where the problem makes brief and not
broad because of this stage.
For the second stage, the policy analyst will establish evaluation criteria, so that he will
know if this policy that will be made is appropriate and will be accepted. This is very important,
because this will help in comparing, measuring and selecting alternatives.
For the third stage, the policy analyst will now identify or make a list of alternative
policies in which they passed the criteria that was made in the second stage. The policy analyst
must bear in mind in this stage that the alternatives that will be listed and passed the criteria will
be agreed by all parties or majority of the affected stakeholders.
 For the fourth stage, the policy analyst will now evaluate all the listed alternatives. In this
stage, the policy will now be rating the alternatives in which they will know the impact of each
policy, that to what extent does each policy satisfy the evaluation criteria.
For the fifth stage where the policy analyst will show now to the client or stakeholders
the final alternative or the policy that will be made to solve the problem defined. This alternative
will be displayed and distinguished, with technical and fundamental analysis.
For the last and sixth stage of policy analysis process, where the policy analyst will now
monitor and evaluate the implemented policy. The policy made will be used by the clients and
they will be the one to record and and make comments that will be submitted to policy analysts
where the policy analysts will maitain, monitor and evaluate the implemented policy.
One best example of policy implemented in my agency in DEPED is the, National
Learning Camp (NLC). This is new to DEPED, where students and pupils have the option to
have a class in summer to make them more knowledgeable in key subjects like, math, science
and english only. It is so amazing because the personnel in higher office consistently monitoring
and evaluating the newly created policy by visiting the schools and interviewing the stakeholders
like the teachers and the students.

2. Choose a current social policy issue (e.g., healthcare, education, environment) and conduct a
SWOT analysis to assess the strengths , weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with
addressing the issue through policy intervention.

Social Policy Issue: EDUCATION - Filipino and mother language still part of the curriculum of
k-12 program, leads to incompetent filipino workers that makes us poor or will make poverty
rate high.

Strengths - Our learners are good in english, compared to other asian countries.
- We are a nation with lot of languages
- We have a very good culture, where kids are respectful, for this students
are respectful to our teachers
- Our young learners are now good in using technology like smart phones

Weaknesses - We are still forcing our learners to learn mother tongue

- Teachers or the schools are not using innovative teaching styles like the
use of gadgets, internet and TV in teaching
-Not all schools are capable of having technologies

Opportunities - Most developed countries are looking for filipino workers because of our
culture
- There are lot of job opportunities if a man knows well in English
- Most books written in our books or other writings in our environment in
the country are written in English
Threats - We might adapt western culture if we speak often in english
 - Possible divison of filipino clans like lumads that will lead to rebel groups
if mother tongue or our native language will not be practised

Base in my simple SWOT analysis. This is made to link in making a simple policy that
Our goal of making the policy is to make our country developed and making the poverty rate
low.
So, we have lots of strengths and we can really maximize the filipino culture of being
respectful and good in english. This will make our learners follow the policy if the teachers are
doing and implementing it.
To eliminate the weakness, our Gov’t officials must not be corrupt so that we can have a
nationwide free internet that even our lumads in the islands and mountains can access news and
education via internet. Though this, I am sure our brothers in remote areas will understand the
nation’s goal tat to become a developed country. Poor people will choose to help that to be a
rebel. Because I am sure they will be educated and for that they become a good and competent
worker that is ready for the opportunities we have listed.

0. Socio-cultural factors are responsible for many policy failures. Discuss and give an accurate
example.
ARMM law, is one example of a failed policy made by our congress. Still, many muslim
brothers are in rebellion. Because the region suffers from poor infrastructure and not enough
basic services, like health and education, poor local governance and a weak private sector.
It is because the design of the law that make the region autonomous and still elect a bully
and corrupt leader. That made this law failed.

0. Compare and contrast the rational-comprehensive model and the incremental model of policy
analysis. Cite an example of each model applied in your respective agencies by illustrating its
advantages and limitations towards the public.

Rational decision making has a centralizing bias, while incrementalism tends to favour
representative and pluralist decision making. Additionally, the rational model tends not to favour
any community contribution while incrementalism leans towards widespread popular
participation in decision making.
Example of a Rational-Comprehensive model of policy analysis in DEPED is the new
NLC or National Learning Camp implementation. The advantage of this is that students have the
opportunity to learn more for free. But the problem is it was not announced in advance where
most of the schools where not prepared because majority of the teachers are expecting to have
vacation instead of having a class.
Another Example is for incremental model of policy analysis, is the “Adopt a school
program” where the policy is almost perfect where all stakeholders are happy. Because of this
program a school will be built and constructed freely by the funds of private sector who is
willing to sponsor. The government will only deploy teachers and give budget once the private
 sponsor’s plan in building a school is polished. The community, the government and the private
sector were all happy of this policy.
5. Discuss the role of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and cost-effective analysis (CEA) in
evaluating policy options. Provide an example of a policy scenario from your own
organization where CBA and CEA could yield different recommendations.

CBA evaluates programs in monetary terms while CEA evaluates programs against
specified educational objectives. Both methods allow for a ranking of programs in terms of
resource use and outcomes through the expression of a ratio.
The perfect scenario happened in DEPED where CBA and CEA were in conflict is the
making of Modules for students when Pandemic hit our country. Printing of Modules are not for
long term since it is just a paper and it is surely be wasted and can not last for longer years. But,
still, DEPED printed and insisted to have modules for all learners in the country, and they really
faced delays in printing and delivering because of the scarcity of materials like the availability of
papers that will be used to it. So, a hearing was made and good thing the CEA evaluating policy
options won, and made this style to stop.

6. Provide an example within your agency of how Management by Objectives could be applied?
How might MBO principles be adapted for different departments or teams within your
organization?

In DEPED, one thing Management by Objectives applied is having the once every week
gathering where one speaker is sharing gospel that inspires workers to work hard.
For MBO principles to be adapted for different departments or teams within DEPED, one
example is the posting of Mission and Vision not only in Every School but also inside the
classroom. Through this, the stakeholders are always be reminded of what is their mission so that
everybody can achieve the Vision.
And also, for teams, the constant having of LAC sessions, meetings, bonding and
teamwork can strengthen MBO principles.

7. How Public Policy works. In your own understanding, briefly discuss a particular policy that
interest you most.

The public policy process, in simplified form, can be understood as a sequence of four
phases: agenda setting, formulation, implementation, and evaluation.
The policy that I am most interested is the Universal Health Care Act, because my uncle
is one of the beneficiaries of it, where the case was, my uncle was almost killed due to head
injury in a motorcycle accident, he was then rushedly sent to Davao Hospital and treated, the bill
was almost 1 million pesos, and the good thing is he did not pay a single cent because he is
qualified to be treated freely. Malasakit Program is part of Universal Health Care law, where the
unemployed filipino citizen can avail if it faces life threathening accidents.

8. Suppose you are a policy analyst working on education reform. Apply both qualitative and
quantitative methods to analyze the impact of a proposed curriculum change. Discuss how
 insights from each method could complement each other and provide a holistic understanding
of the policy's potential outcomes.

If I am a policy analyst working on education reform, we are aware about the

quantitative date that a high rate of our graduates are unemployed. Because the qualitative
data shows that our graduates are not competent enough to do the job.
Because of this, I support the new curriculum change that approved by our Vice-
President Sarah Duterte that to eliminate a lot of unnecessary lessons, and the elimination of
more time in not core subjects. If a am the policy analyst, I will also recommend this policy or
change in curriculum and in addition, I will suggest or recommend also that a learner must not
be forced to graduate or pass if he is really failed in class.
The qualitative data that I will be providing is from the evaluation of reports of our
graduates from the interview and test exam results gathered. And the |quantitative data is from
the high unemployment rate collected plus the no of graduates failed to the interview and
exam conducted for evaluation purposes. So that is why I can recommend policy stated in
paragraph 2 because of this holistic understanding of the policy’s outcome.

9. Explain the difference between decision making and policy making. How does one influence
the other?

Policy Making refers to the making or formulation of a particular plan or course of

action by the government or an organization. Decision Making refers to the act or process of
selecting a particular plan or course of action from a set of alternatives.
Policy analysis can assist decision makers in choosing a preferred course of action from
complex alternatives and under uncertain conditions.

10. How does budgetary process affect in policy analysis and decision making. Cite examples in
your own agency for such failure or success of the budget implementation.

Budgetary Process can really affect in policy making and decision making because the
money is already there and it is limited only and ready to be spent only in needs. Now it affects,
policy making, because you can only choose limited alternatives and not the perfect or good ones
because of this. Consequently, it will result to bad decision making.
In our case in our school, fraternity, premarital sex in campus and bullying were in high
rate. Because of that, lot of students were dropped out, and had early teen pregnancy. One of the
policy made by the school is to hire atleast 2 additional roaming guards in school to have a
peacemaker visibility and to conduct monthly seminars from experts that will conduct good
activities to students. These two policies needs budget, and what the principal and the
stakeholders did was to reallign the budget, that instead of buying a lot of bondbapers, pens and
other consumbale materials needed for classrooms, it used the budget for paying the guards and
seminars or good activites for students. For that, the school had a big change, learners are at
peace.