Three piece paper

1^st piece –  Select Current Policy Issue – 3-4 pages

Research a current policy issue using various news and journal sources. Examples of policy issues are utilization of computers in government, poverty, the community drug problem, homelessness, the city planning process, the role of government in controlling crime, local taxation, the prison system, and public health.

Your analysis will include:

a.     a detailed statement of the issue

b.     the organizations, interests, and officials involved in the issue

c.     an explanation of the connection to public administration, and

d.     a general analysis of the issue.

You must review and critique at least three journal articles, which must come from a peer-reviewed journal in your field of interest. Acceptable journals include: Public Administration Review, Administration and Society, Public Administration Quarterly, International Journal of Public Administration, Public Budgeting and Finance, Review of Public Personnel Administration, Policy Studies Review, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Policy Studies Journal, American Review of Public Administration, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, and Journal of Public Policy.

The article reviews should:

• clearly identify the paper’s research questions/hypotheses
• identify the author’s assumptions
• evaluate the strengths and limitations of the research design methods and measures used, and
•  evaluate the implications for policy and practice.

2^nd piece – Defining Stakeholders – 3-4 pages

In this section, you will define the stakeholders for your chosen topic, present the policy options, and develop an opinion about the problem. In this section, you will analyze the issue.

Be sure to address the following questions:

a.     Who are the players? What is at stake?

b.     What are the existing alternate policies to deal with this issue or problem?

c.     Are the existing public policies effective to deal with this issue or problem? Identify any gaps or conflicts in the sources, and offer your opinions and analysis, where appropriate.

d.     Is there any current or pending legislation related to this issue? If so, identify the bill number and discuss the status.

e.     What is your position on this issue?

As part of your paper, you should conduct a SWOT analysis and explain the results.

Your paper should be 3-4 pages in length, in addition to the title and references pages that are required. Use a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources to support your conclusions.

3^rd piece – Policy position and recommendation – 3-4 pages

At this point, you have researched the issue, defined the stakeholders, and developed an opinion about the issue or problem. Public administrators must make practical and informed decisions and propose solutions to problems. In your third section, you will develop a policy perspective that takes into account the information and data you have assembled in the first two sections. Be sure to address the following questions:

a.     Articulate your recommended policy clearly and practically.

b.     Why and how is your recommended policy better than existing policies for this issue?

What are the financial requirements and/or implications of your recommended policy and how are they addressed in your plan?