Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Implementation
In policy implementation the roles of ambiguity and uncertainty have been theorized but insufficiently tested. This study contributes to the policy process literature by arguing that ambiguity and uncertainty are two sides of the same coin in implementation. Their effects are linked to the credibili...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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OpenEdition
2021-03-01
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| Series: | International Review of Public Policy |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/1638 |
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| _version_ | 1841551172130832384 |
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| author | Kristin Taylor Stephanie Zarb Nathan Jeschke |
| author_facet | Kristin Taylor Stephanie Zarb Nathan Jeschke |
| author_sort | Kristin Taylor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In policy implementation the roles of ambiguity and uncertainty have been theorized but insufficiently tested. This study contributes to the policy process literature by arguing that ambiguity and uncertainty are two sides of the same coin in implementation. Their effects are linked to the credibility of policy, the clarity of goals, and agency capacity. We analyze ambiguity and uncertainty through the lens of post-disaster policy in local government using primary qualitative data from 22 local government officials across 8 counties and 6 cities that were affected by Hurricane Harvey. We find that the credibility of a policy is evaluated separately from the credibility of the formulator; experience moderates the effects of ambiguity; and uncertainty in implementation has a similar effect as ambiguity and is not lessened with more information. The distinction between the political manipulation of ambiguous circumstances and the rational, technocratic approach to gathering more information to reduce uncertainty may be less clear than previously considered. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-18ba3411ab594331acabd1361c776c9a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2679-3873 2706-6274 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | OpenEdition |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Review of Public Policy |
| spelling | doaj-art-18ba3411ab594331acabd1361c776c9a2025-01-09T16:26:08ZengOpenEditionInternational Review of Public Policy2679-38732706-62742021-03-01310.4000/irpp.1638Ambiguity, Uncertainty and ImplementationKristin TaylorStephanie ZarbNathan JeschkeIn policy implementation the roles of ambiguity and uncertainty have been theorized but insufficiently tested. This study contributes to the policy process literature by arguing that ambiguity and uncertainty are two sides of the same coin in implementation. Their effects are linked to the credibility of policy, the clarity of goals, and agency capacity. We analyze ambiguity and uncertainty through the lens of post-disaster policy in local government using primary qualitative data from 22 local government officials across 8 counties and 6 cities that were affected by Hurricane Harvey. We find that the credibility of a policy is evaluated separately from the credibility of the formulator; experience moderates the effects of ambiguity; and uncertainty in implementation has a similar effect as ambiguity and is not lessened with more information. The distinction between the political manipulation of ambiguous circumstances and the rational, technocratic approach to gathering more information to reduce uncertainty may be less clear than previously considered.https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/1638policy implementationambiguityuncertaintylocal governmentdisasterMultiple Streams Framework |
| spellingShingle | Kristin Taylor Stephanie Zarb Nathan Jeschke Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Implementation International Review of Public Policy policy implementation ambiguity uncertainty local government disaster Multiple Streams Framework |
| title | Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Implementation |
| title_full | Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Implementation |
| title_fullStr | Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Implementation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Implementation |
| title_short | Ambiguity, Uncertainty and Implementation |
| title_sort | ambiguity uncertainty and implementation |
| topic | policy implementation ambiguity uncertainty local government disaster Multiple Streams Framework |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/1638 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kristintaylor ambiguityuncertaintyandimplementation AT stephaniezarb ambiguityuncertaintyandimplementation AT nathanjeschke ambiguityuncertaintyandimplementation |