8FP Bardach Roles Of Criteria

Evaluating Alternatives: Criteria and Considerations

Understanding Evaluation of Alternatives

• Analysts do not evaluate alternatives directly; instead, they assess the outcomes produced by these alternatives to understand their real impacts.

• The evaluation process involves recognizing that uncertainty exists in determining how alternatives will affect desired outcomes, which is crucial for accurate analysis.

Importance of Efficiency

• Economists emphasize that efficiency is a central criterion for evaluating problems, focusing on resource allocation to maximize productivity and utility.

• There are two types of efficiency: achieving goals at the least cost (cost-effectiveness) and ensuring resources are allocated effectively across societal needs.

Cost-Effectiveness vs. Benefit-Cost Analysis

• Cost-effectiveness focuses on maximizing effectiveness within a set budget, while benefit-cost analysis questions whether an initiative (like building prisons) should be pursued at all.

• An example illustrates that reallocating funds from efficient but ineffective solutions (e.g., prisons) to more beneficial options (e.g., community policing) can yield better societal outcomes.

Equity and Justice in Evaluation

• Equity encompasses various dimensions beyond just aiding the poor; it also includes considerations of justice and personal values related to social structures.

Distinction Between Evaluative and Practical Criteria

• Evaluative criteria focus on values such as efficiency and equity, while practical criteria involve legal requirements, legislative processes, and bureaucratic capabilities necessary for implementation.

• Effective decision-making requires balancing evaluative ideals with practical realities to ensure policies are both valuable and feasible.