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Of social policy in Alberta: its management, its modification, its evaluation and its making
Author(s) -
Mansbridge Stanley H.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
canadian public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.361
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1754-7121
pISSN - 0008-4840
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-7121.1978.tb01769.x
Subject(s) - caucus , cabinet (room) , legislature , government (linguistics) , public administration , procurement , public relations , political science , politics , management , law , engineering , economics , philosophy , mechanical engineering , linguistics
. The paper seeks to identify and describe the highlights of policy management, modification, evaluation and determination in a major department of government in Alberta, namely the Department of Social Services and Community Health. The emphasis of the article is directed to the processes of management in the broadest sense, rather than to the actual policies and programs. How are new policies developed, what leads to policy modification, how sophisticated are the techniques of evaluation, what significant management principles are exploited? These are the questions tackled by the author and, at the same time, descriptions are given of the elements of the machinery of government in Alberta which impinge directly upon the determination and delivery of social service and community health programs. Particular attention is directed toward the role of the minister in relation to the legislature and the legislative process, the procurement of resources, the consultative process within and outside the government, and, of overriding importance, the relationship between the minister and the deputy minister. Much attention is also focused on the significance of the budgetary processes and the structure of relevant cabinet and caucus committees in the determination of policies and in their modification and evaluation. Descriptions are provided of the important committees both within the department and among closely related departments, and of the process of budget planning at the level of officials. Of particular interest is the section on the variety of means open to a minister and to government for undertaking fundamental policy reassessment, directed toward making new policies. Such measures and royal commissions, special task groups, legislative reviews and others are discussed.