A case study of the use of commissions as instruments of public policy
A case study of the use of commissions as instruments of public policy: The governor's Select Commission on the Future of the State-Local Mental Health System (New York State, 1983-1984) Bogdan, Robert
Publisher: 1999.
ISBN: 0599267690
Summary:
This thesis examines the use of advisory commissions appointed by
chief executives. It asks of what value are such commissions, to whom
and at what cost. Commissions are typically high-profile public
processes that ask a good deal of the participants in terms of their
time, effort, prestige and faith in government. They also ask a good
deal of the interested publics in terms of trust in the promises of
government, patience in the unfolding of the commission, critical
evaluation of the results and support for implementation of key
recommendations. How well a commission fulfills its mission and how
well its convener fulfills the obligation to implement credible
recommendations can have a significant impact on participants and the
public. Using as a case study the Select Commission on the Future of
the State/Local Mental Health System (New York, 1983ยก4), this thesis
explores the elements that caused a commission to achieve, or fail to
achieve, implementation of its recommendations. This thesis concludes
that the Select Commission achieved its mission of producing
coherent, responsive recommendations and that it achieved a high
level of consensus in the service community. However, a high level of
opinion remained in the Select Commission participants and mental
health leadership that implementation had failed. Evidence suggests
that this perception is related to the absence of meaningful
implementation of the Commission's structural reform recommendations,
even while services and funding expanded. This thesis concludes that
this perceived failure resulted not from any particular flaw in the
commission itself, although it had its weaknesses, but as a result of
powerful tensions in the external environment that it was not able to
control. Despite the participants' perception that implementation
failed, however, they reflected a significant level of satisfaction
from having participated in a meaningful public deliberative process.
They also showed evidence of the presence of alternative visions of
citizen participation and how a public process might function at a
more elevated level that empowers the commission itself and energizes
its publics.
Notes:
"Publication number AAT 9926995."
Thesis (PH.D.)--Syracuse University, 1999.
Microfilm of typescript.Ann Arbor MIUMI Dissertation Services,1
microfilm reel; 35 mm.
Related External Links:
Related electronic resource: Current Research at SU: database of SU
dissertations, recent titles available full text http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/syr/main mono73
Click on a subject to see other books listed with the same
subject or to drill down into components of the subject -- such as
geographical locations, dates and so on.
We query many merchants so that you can instantly
compare prices and
availability. You can even check historic prices and subscribe
for notifications. For a manual check, clicking on a link will open a
new window with a search for this book on the merchant's site of your
choice.
