In James Anderson's policy-making cycle, what is the final step?

In James Anderson's policy-making cycle, the final step is evaluation. This step involves assessing the outcomes and impacts of policies that have been implemented. Evaluation is crucial because it helps determine whether the policy achieved its intended goals, identifies any unintended consequences, and provides insights for future policy decisions. By critically analyzing the effectiveness of a policy, policymakers can make informed adjustments or reforms as necessary. This continuous feedback loop contributes to the improvement of public policy over time, ensuring that policies are not only effective but also relevant to the needs of the populace.

In the context of the other steps, such as implementation, adoption, and formulation, these are all predecessors to evaluation in the cycle. Implementation focuses on putting the policy into action, adoption refers to the initial decision to pursue a particular policy direction, and formulation involves the process of developing specific ideas and proposals. Without an evaluation, it would be challenging to measure the success and efficacy of these earlier phases, thereby limiting the overall effectiveness of the policy-making process.