Habits of Policy Enterpreneurs

Policy Entrepreneurs are groups or individuals that can map the dynamics of the governance structure related to smart cities that become the communicator and facilitator between stakeholders that ensure that successful implementation of a certain policy agenda, including in the smart city development. Cairney (2018) identifies three habits that the Policy Entrepreneurs use to ensure that the policy agenda that they propose are successfully accepted and implemented by the policymakers.

First, Policy Entrepreneurs uses framing that are appropriate the current context where they belief the policy may be applicable. Policy Entrepreneurs understands the time and cognitive limitations that policymakers have under the pressure of making accurate and prompt decisions. Hence, Policy Entrepreneurs adjust the problem framing to the current condition that the policymakers are facing. 

Next, Policy Entrepreneurs coupled their problems with solution. This ensures that their favoured solution is available before attention lurches to the problem. In addition, they may have built a coalition of stakeholders with similar interest to improve the receptivity of the policy solutions. 

Lastly, Policy Entrepreneurs takes full advantage of a “window of opportunity”. During certain events or political changes, policymakers are more willing to accept and adopt a policy as it is relevant of what is currently happening, this is when Policy Entrepreneurs take their chances in promoting their policy agenda and have better probability to be adopted. 

Reference:

Cairney, P. (2018). Three habits of successful policy entrepreneurs. Policy & Politics, 46(2), 199-215.

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