Policy and model analysis : the case of soviet immigrant teacher re-training in Israel

This paper presents an evaluation study of the re-training programme for immigrant science teachers from former USSR (FSU) that took place in Israeli universities and teacher-training colleges for the first time during 1990-1991 following the mass immigration from FSU. The main criterion for this evaluation was the degree to which the re-training programmes catered to professional, social and cultural inherent affecting factors and met the aims of the re-training policy. On the basis of this study, a list of policy recommendations is offered. The re-training considerations and the models identified in this study might be applied in countries where major social changes, such as immigration or recession, occur.peer-reviewe

The gap between intention and attainment in policy implementation : a syndrome revisited : the case of the reform in technological studies in Israel

This study analyses the syndrome inherent in the gap between policy setting and policy implementation, as exemplified by the case of the reform in the high-school system initiated by the Israeli Ministry of Education's Technological Division. The reform policy in the Technological trend prompted by the great advances in this field in recent years is explored, and the degree of its expected versus de facto implementation is analysed. The measurement tool for degree of implementation is the comparative requirements of the final matriculation exams before and after the beginning of the reform. The analysis focuses on the electronics and electricity trends. It challenges the validity of the proposed reform implementation and disputes the· validity of the matriculation exams as a tool meant to assess reform implementation. The gap between the initial intention of the policy makers and actual policy implementation will be analysed and discussed.peer-reviewe

Re-visiting Meltsner: Policy Advice Systems and the Multi-Dimensional Nature of Professional Policy Analysis

10.2139/ssrn.15462511-2

Reinventing government: The case of political cultures and public policymaking

Nos últimos anos, a institucionalização de normas de confiabilidade e planejamento político, na administração pública israelense, tem preocupado vários comitês sobre a reforma do serviço público e a reorganização do governo. Este trabalho discute o histórico da cultura de estabelecimento das políticas israelenses e seu efeito sobre recomendações para o planejamento, a análise, a avaliação e a accountability das políticas. Essa confiança é interessante, em parte, porque traça uma reação aos arranjos institucionais, que são, de muitas maneiras, similares àqueles promovidos por defensores da Nova Gestão Pública. Ironicamente, no entanto, ela explica os esforços para substituí-los por algo mais semelhante a arranjos burocráticos tradicionais.En años recientes, la institucionalización de normas de políticas de accountability y de planeamiento en la administración pública de Israel ha preocupado una serie de comités sobre reforma del servicio público y de reorganización del gobierno. Este artículo discute el histórico de la cultura de establecimiento de las políticas públicas de Israel y su efecto sobre las recomendaciones para el planeamiento, el análisis, la evaluación y accountability sistemáticos de las políticas. Esta confianza es interesante, en parte, porque remonta una reacción a los arreglos institucionales que son, de muchas maneras, similares a aquellos promovidos por los defensores de la nueva gestión pública. Irónicamente, sin embargo, ella explica los esfuerzos de substituirlos por algo más semejante a arreglos burocráticos tradicionales.In recent years the institutionalization of norms of policy accountability and planning in the Israeli public administration has preoccupied a series of committees on public service reform and government reorganization. This paper discusses the background of the Israeli policy-making culture and its effect on recommendations for systematic policy planning, analysis, evaluation, and accountability. This account is interesting, partly, because it traces a reaction to institutional arrangements that are in many ways similar to those promoted by advocates of the New Public Management. Ironically, however, it explains the efforts to replace them with something more like traditional bureaucratic arrangements.Número padronizado: v. 54, n. 3 (2003) Revista do Serviço Público - RSP, ano 54, n. 3, p. 67-83Gestão PúblicaISSN Impresso: 0034-9240ISSN Eletrônico: 2357-801

POLICY FEASIBILITY AND IMMIGRANT ABSORBTION IN A MASS IMMIGRATION CONTEXT:

The issue of-whether, and to what extent, immigrants should be assisted in the integration process by government-initiated programs has been a long-standing policy concern in countries exposed to waves of immigration. In Israel, where the raison d'tre of the state is to be a homeland for any person of the Jewish tradition who wishes to join Israeli society, issues of assistance to immigrants are ascribed particular importance. This study evaluated the re-training policy of the Israeli government for Soviet immigrant scientists as an immediately available employment and integration solution. The policy was initiated following the mass immigration from the former USSR during 1989-1991. The scientists were re-trained to teach science in high-schools. The investigation focuses on the impact of this policy as an immediate absorption solution, the impact of retraining offered by universities on employment and professional performance, and the benefit to the host educational system. Technical feasibility and its role in decision making will be discussed. Copyright 1998 by The Policy Studies Organization.

Reducing Anxiety and Resistance in Policy and Programme Evaluations: A Socio-Psychological Analysis

Evaluators of an organization whose programmes or policies are under evaluation frequently encounter anxiety and resistance from the evaluees. Literature abounds with suggestions for developing collaborative interactions. Few studies, if any, show circumstances where the evaluees’ need for co-operation and support transcends the inherent anxiety and resistance and triggers for the evaluees’ desire for moral support and advice. An analysis of the socio-psychological factors involved in the circumstances described in this study may shed light on how the evaluator can develop the evaluation process to enhance the collaboration with the evaluees. Here we report and analyse three case histories of such evaluations to determine the critical features of the evaluations that made them collaborative rather than conflictual. The common issues raised shed light on practices that alleviate anxiety in the evaluation process

Good fences make good neighbours: Policy evaluation and policy analysis - exploring the differences

Trying to build political dimensions into evaluation has blurred the distinction between policy analysis and policy evaluation. We do not dispute the importance of political context and values for evaluation or policy analysis, but we argue that evaluation and policy analysis are indeed different by definition, function and methodology. These differences are widely known but increasingly disregarded, especially at the stage of the presentation of findings. Evaluation tends to adopt the stance of the analyst in that it is being urged to make recommendations on policy choices within the narrow scope of answers based on evaluation questions, without the benefit of additional contextual information. The article compares policy evaluation and policy analysis in terms of conceptualization, research methods, problem definition and data presentation and argumentation. In presenting the differences between evaluation and analysis, we point to the dangers inherent in a lack of awareness of where the boundaries lie and what purpose they serve