The role of policy advisers in policy

learningWolfgang Polt-

Joanneum ResearchInstitute for Technology and Regional

Policy

wolfgang.polt@joanneum.at

6CP Conference23-24 May 2006

Structure of the presentation

Definition of policy learning Barriers to policy learning How not to do policy learning What you need for policy

learning Role of policy advisers in

policy learning Policy advise in a systemic

context

What is ‚policy learning‘ ?

„Policy learning is defined as all those processes by which policy systems generate and incorporate knowledge and understanding about (i) underlying causes and conditions of policies and initiatives (ii) the effects of policy and initiatives. This knowledge is derived throughout the policy cycle and policy learning provides feed-back to all stages“

(Hjelt et al., in OECD 2005: Governance of Innovation Systems, p.196)

Barriers to ‚policy learning‘

Reluctance to confront the past

Communication failure(s) Lack of adoption capacity Loss of institutional memory

Reluctance to confront the past

„Why look back at old programmes / initiatives? We are forward looking !“

Evaluations are dangerous because of potential negative outcomes

Not ‚making‘ an experience, is not learning at all !§

Communication failure(s)

Communicating in different ‚codes‘

Communicating not at all

Not accepting or understanding different perspectives !

Lack of adoption capacities

Policy stripped of ressources Information overflow Coordination overload

Not being able to capitalize on available information !

Loss of institutional memory

Loss of personell Institutional shake-ups

Not being able to retain and pass on available knowledge !

How better not to learn… ‚Path dependency‘ of learning

(‚Superstitious learning‘) Indicator driven policy

(‚Superfical learning‘)

Available information is processed, but without knowledgable interpretation !

What you need for policy learning Ken‘s quadrants:

Current Context

Future Visions

Past Actions

Parallel Activities

Policy Practice

What you need for policy learning

Communication within a system of ‚distributed strategic intelligence‘

Needs knowledge infrastructures, institutions, openess, incentive structures, shared ‚codes‘…

Role(s) of policy advisers

The policy adviser as…

the irritation of the system the process / communication

enabler the information filter the store of information and

knowledge

Role(s) of policy advisers

The policy adviser as…

the scapegoat the legitimizer the substitute policy

maker

Policy advise in a systemic context The relation to

policy makers: ‚truth speaks to power‘? The policy advisor as

an expert: in superior knowledge of the system?

The policy maker: in posession of power?

Policy advise in a systemic context Analysing the ‚RTDI policy system‘

with the tools of system analysis Recognising the implications of the

systemic character of policymaking: Inherent limitations on what we can

know about a complex system Inherent limitation of communication

between systems Inherent limits to foresee the effects of

an intervention in a complex system

A sketch of the Austrian Institutional STI policy landscape

Parliament

Government

BMF

Committee for science, industry

and economic affairs

BMWA BMVIT BMBWK

AWS, ERP

FFFBIT

FWF

TIG

ASA

Policy

Agencies

Performers

KFI

National Bank

UniversitiesFirms ARC Polytechnics

TechnologyCentres

Competence platforms, incubators

Money from primary sources

Funding: competitive moneyin colour of primary source

Policy advice

…AW

LBGCD-Lab.

AnniversaryFundCDG

VT…

ACR

Main thematic programmes

NANO FIT-IT Sustainable D. protec 2002+ fFORTE GENAU

Kind, Knet Kplus-Centres AplusB

Umbrella organisation

LISA

A3 IBS I2

Austrian Science Council

Council for Research and Technology Development

Parliament

Government

BMF

Committee for science, industry

and economic affairs

BMWA BMVIT BMBWK

AWS, ERP

FFFBIT

FWF

TIG

ASA

Policy

Agencies

Performers

KFI

National Bank

UniversitiesFirms ARC Polytechnics

TechnologyCentres

Competence platforms, incubators

Money from primary sources

Funding: competitive moneyin colour of primary source

Policy advice

…AW

LBGCD-Lab.

AnniversaryFundCDG

VT…

ACR

Main thematic programmes

NANO FIT-IT Sustainable D. protec 2002+ fFORTE GENAU

Kind, Knet Kplus-Centres AplusB

Umbrella organisation

LISA

A3 IBS I2

Austrian Science Council

Council for Research and Technology Development

The Austrian Systemof IST / e-GovernmentPolicy Making (simplified version)

Policy advise in a systemic context Policy adviser as an expert on

the subject matter of policy and the related policy process

Policy adviser as a the one who asks the right questions – not the one providing the ‚right‘ answers from the position of superior knowledge

Policy adviser in co-evolution with the ‚client‘s system‘, i.e. change of roles in the policy cycle

Policy advise in a systemic context Policy adviser as an expert on the subject matter

of policy and the related policy process Policy adviser as a the one who asks the right

questions – not the one providing the ‚right‘ answers from the position of superior knowledge

Policy adviser in co-evolution with the ‚client‘s system‘, i.e. change of roles in the policy cycle

Probably we need a rather fundamenal change of our perception of the role of policy advise

.. A last look back at the Austrian Info-Society case:

successful policy learning ??

Thank you for your attention !