Multiple Streams Approach: An Introduction

Summary

In this lecture, Niko Zahariadis discusses the Multiple Streams Framework, a decision-making model in organizations and government. Originating from the 'garbage can model' of the 1960s, it involves five elements: problem stream, policy stream, politics stream, policy windows, and policy entrepreneurs. These elements interact to produce decisions, with policy windows indicating opportune moments for policy adoption. Policy entrepreneurs play a crucial role in advancing their favored solutions during these windows.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The Multiple Streams Framework originates from research on organizational theory and decision-making under extreme conditions.
• 🗑️ The 'Garbage Can Model' describes organizations with unclear technology, undefined preferences, and fluid participation.
• 📚 John Kingdon adapted the framework for the US Federal level to explain agenda setting in his book 'Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies'.
• 🌐 The framework consists of five structural elements: problem stream, policy stream, politics stream, policy windows, and policy entrepreneurs.
• 🔍 The problem stream identifies various issues that governments are concerned with at any given time.
• 💡 The policy stream is a collection of ideas debated by experts in policy communities, focusing on technical feasibility and value acceptability.
• 🏛️ The politics stream involves legislators and administrators who make decisions but may not originate the ideas.
• 🪟 Policy windows are temporary opportunities that can open in the problem or politics stream, influencing the adoption of policies.
• 🌪️ Examples of policy windows include elections or crises like Hurricane Katrina, which can lead to policy changes.
• 💼 Policy entrepreneurs are individuals who use their skills and resources to advocate for specific policy solutions during open policy windows.
• 🔄 The interaction of all five elements is crucial for policy decisions, and the process is contingent on these elements aligning.

Q & A

What is the multiple streams framework?

The multiple streams framework is a theoretical approach used to explain how decisions are made in organizations, particularly under extreme conditions. It was adapted by John Kingdon to explain agenda setting at the US Federal level.

What are the three common characteristics of organizations in the garbage can model?

The garbage can model involves organizations that share three common characteristics: organized anarchies (OPAC), where people do not know what they want and thus discover their preferences in the decision-making process; problems that are not well understood; and fluid participation, meaning different people are involved in decisions.

Who adapted the garbage can model to the US Federal level?

John Kingdon adapted the garbage can model to the US Federal level in his book 'Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies' to explain agenda setting.

What are the five structural elements of the multiple streams approach?

The five structural elements of the multiple streams approach are: the problem stream, the policy stream, the politics stream, policy windows, and policy entrepreneurs.

What does the problem stream refer to?

The problem stream refers to various problems that governments look at or are interested in at any given moment in time. It can include focusing events, jumps in indicators, or feedback from previous policies.

What is the policy stream?

The policy stream is a collection of ideas that are debated and discussed within policy communities, primarily by experts. It involves considerations of technical feasibility, value acceptability, and visibility.

What is the politics stream?

The politics stream involves legislators and administrators who come in and out of decisions. They have their own preferences and are the ones who actually make decisions, though they may not originate the ideas.

What are policy windows?

Policy windows are opportunities for a policy to be adopted. They open in either the problem stream or the politics stream and are ephemeral, meaning they don't stay open for a very long time.

Why are policy windows important?

Policy windows are important because they determine the right or wrong time for a policy to be adopted. They provide context for how things are going to happen and what the likely duration of the debate will be.

Who are policy entrepreneurs?

Policy entrepreneurs are individuals, often in and out of government, who spend time, money, and skills to try to pass pet projects or solutions through legislation during open policy windows.

How do policy entrepreneurs contribute to the policy-making process?

Policy entrepreneurs contribute by pushing their pet solutions during policy windows, attempting to couple their ideas with the problem and politics streams to get them adopted by legislators or administrators.