The Nature of and Need for Policy Studies

A CRITIQUE:

"The Nature of and Need for Policy Studies"

The article "The Nature of and Need for Policy Studies" was written by Romeo B. Ocampo, one of the distinguished professors in the National College of Public Administration in the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City and a member of the Philippine Society for Public Administration.

In his article, Prof. Ocampo discusses about policy studies and the varying interpretations or understanding thereof by many scholars on the subject. Moreover, it gives stress on the emergence of the subject matter as a field of study in public administration, law, political science, economics, and other disciplines. As compared to other academic subjects, however, policy studies is given more emphasis and should be given ample stress in the field of public administration.

As much as it derived advantage by strengthening common grounds on the field regardless of the discipline, the emergence of various schools of thought on the matter, however, has brought about varying interpretations and focus on policy studies.

The author, Prof. Ocampo, thus subscribes to the definition of policy as enunciated by Nicolaidis -

Policy is a rule for action, manifesting or clarifying specific organization goals, objectives, values or ideals and often prescribing the obligatory or most desirable ways and means for their accomplishment. Such a rule of action established for the purpose of framing, guiding, or directing organizational activities, including decisionmaking, intends to provide relative stability, consistency, uniformity and continuity in the operations of the organization (Nikolaidis 1963: 347-356).

The author then proceeds to a discussion about the need of policy studies in the Philippines by noting the expanding scope and authority of government and the widening array of programs and projects it has launched to accelerate national development.

Most of the ideas expounded by the author in his article stem from the rise of policy studies as an important tool in public affairs. Policy studies should thus be given attention if we are to seriously take on the challenge of administering well the direction of our agencies. By having a thorough understanding of policy studies, we will be able to thoroughly analyze and evaluate the scope of our duties. Policy studies will thus give us the know-how, the analytical, ethical and practical skills to effectively and efficiently manage the affairs of our government.

Furthermore, a study on policies will equip us in actualizing solutions to problems brought to the agenda of our government. Suffice to state, inherent in every action, in every plan of every public organization, are policies intrinsically