The Art of Judgment -- Policy-Making Research: Policy-Making Research

Author: Wickes
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: This book is a classic academic work in the field of public administration and public management. It is a result of the reflection on the thoughts in the field of public management in the mid-20th century. It offers an insightful and profound analysis of the formulation of public policy, particularly the formation of judgments. Wickes argues that forming judgments is a behavior of all individuals and a cognitive skill of the individual. The process of policy-making and judgment formation is also the process of applying cognitive skills such as evaluation, prediction, innovation, and the establishment of evaluation systems. Judgments are not only the recognition of facts but also the assessment of the ethical and political values implied by the facts. Therefore, judgments are categorized into factual judgments, value judgments, and instrumental judgments. Judgment and decision-making are institutional processes, reflected in the growth, development, and policy-making behavior of institutions. The activities of cognitive skills and social processes are indivisible and are integrated within a social network platform that shares common information, values, and expectations. Different types of institutions and systems have varying impacts on policy-making, and different contexts also impose different requirements on judgment and policy-making. Describing, analyzing, and understanding the processes of judgment and decision-making in different institutions, contexts, and systems is the field this book aims to explore.