78 6.7 – CHAPTER SUMMARY

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Policy implementation is a complex process that involves coordination between individuals, agencies, and policy makers. Managers, doers, and fixers are at the heart of the implementation process. Together they move the policy from a piece of legislation or executive order to something tangible. The implementation machinery, to borrow from Bardach, will produce policy at different speeds and with varying success rates based on the factors outlined above. Policy can have broad public support, originate from a favorable source, and have adequate resources secured but still stall prior to implementation if the administrative costs and burdens are too great. Similarly, a policy can be straightforward and require minimum effort for implementation yet never get passed if there is little political and/or public support. Thus, policy makers must continuously work the four primary levers to keep the machinery operational.