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The limits of learning: Policy evaluation and the O ntario M inistry of R esearch and I nnovation
Author(s) -
Sharaput Markus
Publication year - 2012
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.1754-7121.2012.00216.x
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , christian ministry , normative , process (computing) , causality (physics) , computer science , business , political science , law , biology , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , operating system
This article reviews recent efforts by the O ntario M inistry of R esearch and I nnovation ( MRI ) to measure and evaluate the success of its policies. It argues that these efforts have been inhibited by changes in the ministry's political context and the inherent complexity of the issues that innovation policies seek to address. The innovation strategy pursued by the ministry incorporates an element of mediated causality in its program logic, which complicates efforts to determine policy outcomes. When compounded by a changing normative context for judging success, this inherent complexity makes it very difficult to accurately determine and learn from the MRI 's policy outcomes. The article concludes by suggesting a preliminary process of inquiry that might address some of these difficulties.