Journal of Iranian Public Administration Studies

Journal of Iranian Public Administration Studies

Exploring the Roles of Policy Entrepreneurs in Public Policy-Making: A Phenomenographic Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Hamidizadeh 1
Hassan DanaeeFard 2
Reza Eshgarf 3
1 Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management & Accounting, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran.
2 Professor, Public Administration Department, Faculty of Management and Economics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
3 PhD in Public Administration, Department of Public Administration, , Faculty of Management & Accounting, College of Farabi, University of Tehran, Qom, Iran.
10.22034/jipas.2023.357715.1468
Abstract
This study aims to explore, understand, and classify the roles of policy entrepreneurs in public policy-making, providing a deeper understanding of this phenomenon from the perspectives of the study participants. A phenomenographical approach was adopted, with semi-structured interviews as the primary method of data collection. The sampling was purposive, employing maximum variation and snowball methods, with a sample sizse determined based on theoretical saturation, totaling twenty participants. Interviews were conducted with twenty individuals who had recently engaged in policy entrepreneurship through implementing policy innovations across eleven policy domains. The analysis revealed six descriptive categories of policy entrepreneurs' roles: "Concerned Actor," "Mentor," "Marketer," "Politician," "Behind-the-Scenes Actor," and "Observer," each categorized at the individual, policy network, and institutional levels. Based on these identified descriptive categories, an Outcome Space of the roles of policy entrepreneurs in public policy-making in Iran is presented to address the research question.
Keywords
Policy Entrepreneurship
Roles of Policy Entrepreneurs
Public Policy-Making
Phenomenography
مهیمنی، محسن (1393). جای خالی کارآفرین سیاسی در حوزه سیاست‌گذاری عمومی. تهران. دسترسی در:
http://ippra.com/policy/2014-02-18-10-39-03/2014-02-18-10-45-24/388-moheimany.html (22/09/1401)
Arnold, G. (2021). Does entrepreneurship work? Understanding what policy entrepreneurs do and whether it matters. Policy Studies Journal. 49(4): 968-991.
Ashworth, P., and Lucas, U. (2000). Achieving empathy and engagement: A practical approach to the design, conduct, and reporting of phenomenographic research. Studies in Higher Education. 25(3): 295-308.
Bakir, C. (2009). Policy entrepreneurship and institutional change: Multilevel governance of central banking reform. Governance. 22(4): 571-598.
Bakir, C., and Jarvis, D. S. (2017). Contextualising the context in policy entrepreneurship and institutional change. Policy and Society. 36(4): 465-478.
Bakir, C., and Gunduz, K. A. (2020). The importance of policy entrepreneurs in developing countries: A systematic review and future research agenda. Public Administration and Development. 40(1): 11-34.
Boasson, EL. (2018). Entrepreneurship: a key driver of polycentric governance? In Governing climate change: polycentricity in action?. 117-134. Cambridge University Press.
Capano, G., and Galanti, M. T. (2021). From policy entrepreneurs to policy entrepreneurship: Actors and actions in public policy innovation. Policy & Politics. 49(3): 321-342.
Cibangu, S. K., & Hepworth, M. (2016). The uses of phenomenology and phenomenography: A critical review. Library & Information Science Research, 38(2), 148-160.
Cohen, N. (2016). Policy entrepreneurs and agenda setting. In Handbook of public policy agenda setting. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Dahlgren, L. O., and Fallsberg, M. (1991). Phenomenography as a qualitative approach in social pharmacy research. Journal of social and administrative pharmacy. 8(4): 150-156.
Davis, G. W. (1999).  Policy entrepreneurship: a case study of the Maryland Governor's Commission on Welfare Policy. PhD diss., George Mason University.
Faling, M. (2019).  Strategizing beyond boundaries: policy entrepreneurship for climate-smart agriculture. PhD diss., Wageningen University and Research.
Frisch‐Aviram, N., Beeri, I., and Cohen, N. (2020). Entrepreneurship in the policy process: Linking behavior and context through a systematic review of the policy entrepreneurship literature. Public Administration Review. 80(2): 188-197.
Khan, S. H. (2014). Phenomenography: A qualitative research methodology in Bangladesh. International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications. 5(2): 34-43.
King, P. J. (1988).  Policy entrepreneurs: Catalysts in the policy innovation process. PhD diss., University of Minnesota.
King, A. M. (2010).  The geometry of racial politics: The role of policy entrepreneurs in fostering triangulation among US racial and ethnic groups, < 1800–1964>. PhD diss., University of South Carolina.
Larsson, J., and Holmstrom, I. (2007). Phenomenographic or phenomenological analysis: Does it matter? Examples from a study on anesthesiologists’ work. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 2(1): 55-64.
Marton, F., and Pong, W. Y. (2005).  On the unit of description in phenomenography. Higher education research & development. 24(4): 335-348.
Mintrom, M., and Norman, P. (2009). Policy entrepreneurship and policy change. Policy Studies Journal. 37(4): 649-667.
Mintrom, M., and Thomas, M. (2018). Policy entrepreneurs and collaborative action: Pursuit of the sustainable development goals. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing. 10(2): 153-171.
Mintrom, M. (2019). So you want to be a policy entrepreneur?. Policy design and practice. 2(4): 307-323.
Mintrom, M. (2020). Policy entrepreneurs and dynamic change. Cambridge University Press.
Mintrom, M., Maurya, D., and Jingwei He, A. (2020). Policy entrepreneurship in Asia: the emerging research agenda. Journal of Asian Public Policy. 13(1): 1-17.
Petridou, E., and Mintrom, M. (2021). A research agenda for the study of policy entrepreneurs. Policy Studies Journal. 49(4): 943-967.
Salganik, M. J., and Heckathorn, D. D. (2004). Sampling and estimation in hidden populations using respondent‐driven sampling. Sociological Methodology. 34(1): 193-240.
Sandberg, J. (2005). How do we justify knowledge produced within interpretive approaches?. Organizational research methods. 8(1): 41-68.
Shanahan, E. A., Jones, M. D., McBeth, M. K., and Radaelli, C. M. (2018). The narrative policy framework. In Theories of the policy process: 173-213. Routledge.
Shockley, G. E. (2005).  The function of policy entrepreneurship in American politics: The return of stability to federal arts policy. PhD diss.,  George Mason University.

  • Receive Date 26 August 2023
  • Revise Date 14 December 2023
  • Accept Date 01 January 2024