The Necessity of Discretion : A Behavioral Evaluation of Bottom-Up Implementation Theory

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2018
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van Engen, Nadine
Tummers, Lars
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Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory ; 28 (2018), 4. - pp. 583-601. - Oxford University Press. - ISSN 1053-1858. - eISSN 1477-9803
Abstract
The topic of discretion continues to be hotly debated in policy design and policy implementation. In top-down theories, discretion at the frontline is often seen as a control problem: discretion should be avoided as it can mean that the policy is not implemented as intended. Conversely, bottom-up theories state that discretion can help policy implementers tailor a policy to specific circumstances. However, there has been little systematic research into how the experience of having discretion motivates frontline workers to implement a policy. We conceptualize and evaluate this relationship by combining public administration and motivation literature, using datasets in healthcare and education and large-N set-theoretic configurational analysis. Results robustly show that experiencing discretion is a quasi-necessary condition and, hence, a prerequisite for high implementation willingness. This finding is more in line with bottom-up than with top-down theories. Policy implementers crucially need the freedom to adapt the program to local conditions for being motivated to implement a policy. The evidence encourages scholars and practitioners to move from the question whether frontline workers should be granted discretion to how to best make use of frontline workers’ discretion instead.
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320 Politics
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ISO 690THOMANN, Eva, Nadine VAN ENGEN, Lars TUMMERS, 2018. The Necessity of Discretion : A Behavioral Evaluation of Bottom-Up Implementation Theory. In: Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. Oxford University Press. 28(4), pp. 583-601. ISSN 1053-1858. eISSN 1477-9803. Available under: doi: 10.1093/jopart/muy024
BibTex
@article{Thomann2018-10Neces-52367,
  year={2018},
  doi={10.1093/jopart/muy024},
  title={The Necessity of Discretion : A Behavioral Evaluation of Bottom-Up Implementation Theory},
  number={4},
  volume={28},
  issn={1053-1858},
  journal={Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory},
  pages={583--601},
  author={Thomann, Eva and van Engen, Nadine and Tummers, Lars}
}
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