Theories on Govermental Policy Design and Introductory Education

Abstract

I suspect that the knowledge and theories on governmental policy process can hardly inspire students' creativity. Rather, I want to pay much attention to designers' thoughts: what is design?

Surely, we political scientists often talk of “design”. But it is dubious if we understand how designers create new products. As “design” means broadly, it is often used in the studies on management science. In this trend, policy design discussions ironically may dismiss the creativity for problem solving, which required in the introductory education for policy studies. Before the social engineering approach, we had better understand how the product designers realize new concept.

This approach is different from prior works on policy design. Even though Professor Adachi (2005) noted the creative ideas or sketches, he highlighted the normative guideline for those who involved in governmental decision making. This paper tries to show another approach to the basic question what policy design is. This is much helped by the designers' writings : Itsumi (2002). Hara (2003). and Fukasawa (2005).

But it is natural that readers doubt the relevance of public policy to the idea of product design. So I will respond them with three reasons as follows;

(1) In policy design discussions, we have paid little attention to the organizational divisions of designing processes. Therefore, the students who come to our class should feel difficulty in imaging what they will do in the near future.

(2) Policy researchers often presuppose that policy designers must enable political leaders to choice in some possible plans. But such an important premise in policy studies won't be plausible if designers, like in the product design practices, should outline the object in a decisive manner.

(3) Because the beauty of “modern design” consists of functionality and simplicity, products design doesn't always support either the faith on rationality in 1960's or the affirmation of rude private profit seeking after 1980's. Well designed commodities may make us sensitive to social norms in everyday lives.