NCJ Number
91430
Date Published
1983
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This document provides an agenda and handouts for a 6-hour workshop for public administrators on policy optimizing analysis, a method for determining which one or combination of policies and programs will achieve or maximize goals in the context of given constraints and conditions.
Abstract
The workshop is designed especially for administrators with no formal training in policy evaluation, but who need such skills in an era of increasing demands for services and decreasing resources. The workshop is divided into six periods: (1) basic concepts in policy optimizing analysis; (2) finding an optimum choice among lump sum alternatives without contingent probabilities; (3) finding an optimum choice under conditions of risk; (4) making decisions where doing too much or too little is undesirable; (5) allocating scarce resources; and (6) integrating and summarizing materials. The handouts for the first five periods include summaries of key concepts; illustrative charts and graphs; and examples from the fields of crime, poverty, and environmental protection. To facilitate the integration session, the document provides a series of articles titled 'Doing Better with Less Through Better Decisionmaking,' a bibliography of 69 references, and a glossary. The workshop is based partly on Stuart Nagel's 'Policy Evaluation: Making Optimum Decisions' and 'Public Policy: Goals, Means, and Methods.' It does not require advanced statistical or mathematical skills.