Table Of Content“In this volume, Charles Chao Rong Phua continued his strategic pragmatism
thesis and embedded it in the policy strategy process. His infusion of corporate
strategy tools into the right policy process sequence is novel and requires a deep
understanding of both public policy and business management disciplines to do
so. This book opens the door for greater cross-fertilisation of knowledge between
policy and business disciplines through policy strategy and innovation cases. Highly
recommended for government and business practitioners and academics alike.”
Xufeng Zhu, Professor and Executive Dean, School of Public Policy
and Management, Tsinghua University, China
“In this lively new book, the author lays out an approach to public policy that
escapes the usual US and Westminster boundaries to the broader fabric of public
policy puzzles throughout the world. He lays out strategies for innovation that are
rooted in the emerging new reality of policy complexity. That creates a rich new
lens through which to view the big issues facing governments around the world.”
Donald F. Kettl, Professor Emeritus and Former Dean, School
of Public Policy, University of Maryland, United States
POLICY STRATEGY AND
INNOVATION PRIMER
Phua focuses on applying the best of corporate strategy and innovation tools and praxis into
the policy process with the aim of devising a coherent policy strategy–innovation framework
and process.
Government and business strategies differ in their operating assumptions and variables,
but the strategy process is more similar than is often perceived. Phua debunks the government
versus business dichotomy and demonstrates the potential for cross-learning between both
domains. Readers will benefit the most by reading this book in tandem with Phua’s other
works on strategy also featured in this series.
This book is an essential primer for academics, practitioners and learners of public policy,
strategy, innovation and applied problem-solving.
Charles Chao Rong Phua now runs Solaris Strategies Singapore (and chairs Solaris
Consortium of Management Consultancies) dedicated to pragmatically solving complex
problems supporting governments, corporates and underserved nonprofits at sector
and enterprise levels, after two decades in government, where he functioned as a head
research trainer in defence and chief external affairs supporting cities and infrastructural
diplomacy. Charles also presides over Association for Public Affairs (Singapore) spearheading
active citizenry in policymaking and served as chief judge for Singapore Model Cabinet
and Parliament organised by government. He is an internationally certified management
consultant – academic fellow (International Council of Management Consulting
Institutes), facilitator, project manager, SAFe agile practitioner with doctorate in public
policy, postgraduate/degrees in international relations, security management, education,
accounting, systems thinking, organisational psychology and law, Charles completed
executive education in strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, marketing and sustainability
from leading business schools: Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, Berkeley, Babson,
INSEAD, Cambridge, Oxford, London Business School. He currently serves as series editor
for Routledge series for strategy, wisdom and skills with a commitment to codify academic +
practitioner wisdom in applied and interdisciplinary fields. He teaches applied problem-
solving at National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Management University and Singapore University of Social Sciences, Civil Service College
(Singapore), University of St Gallen (Switzerland). He was a Fulbright fellow and completed
resident fellowships at Brookings, Columbia and Johns Hopkins.
Part of this book was adapted from his course materials. He seeks to bring the best of
corporate strategy into public policy academia and practice, in the right sequence and for
the right purpose.
Routledge-Solaris Focus on Strategy, Wisdom and Skills
The Series is advised and edited by Charles Chao Rong Phua, the Chairman of the
Solaris Consortium of Management Consultancies.
Strategic Pragmatism in Foreign Policy
Comparing the US, China, and Singapore
Charles Chao Rong Phua
A Humanist Approach to Sustainable Investment
The Green Dot Score
Janek Ratnatunga
Principles of Political Thought
Lee Hae Young
Cultural Pragmatism for US-China Relations
Breaking the Gridlock and Co-Creating Our Future
Charles Chao Rong Phua
Designing the Future of Education
C J Meadows
Policy Strategy and Innovation Primer
Process, Praxis and Tools
Charles Chao Rong Phua
Managerial Accounting Analytics
A Primer
Janek Ratnatunga
POLICY STRATEGY AND
INNOVATION PRIMER
Process, Praxis and Tools
Charles Chao Rong Phua
Designed cover image: BrianAJackson / Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Charles Chao Rong Phua
The right of Charles Chao Rong Phua to be identified as author of this
work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-032-30908-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-30909-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-30722-8 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003307228
Typeset in Bembo
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
In loving memory of Tan Sway Moi @ Monica
my mother who bravely bore me under difficult circumstances
our entrepreneurial Ma who successfully managed a
million-dollar enterprise
our dedicated Ma who lovingly managed a tasty home kitchen
our fighter Ma who sequentially fought multiple illnesses
our survivor Ma who jovially embraced pain with smile and zest
our role model for optimism, courage, grit and selfless love
Professor James G March (1928–2018)
a titan in organisational management covering political science,
sociology, economics, business and education disciplines.
an author with Herbert A. Simon (1993) Organizations, with
bounded rationality and many more concepts on decision science
at the individual, groups, organisations, firms and society.
a teacher to me who kindly hosted me twice at
Stanford University
and we spoke about many things under the sun.
His breadth of work and impact remain an aspiration to many.
CONTENTS
List of Figures x
List of Tables xi
Preface xii
1 Public Policy and Public Administration/Management:
Paradigms, Practice and Paradoxes 1
2 Bringing the Public and Process Back Into Public Policy:
A Citizen’s Guide to Public Policy Process 44
3 Macro-Situation Analysis: Environment Analysis 54
4 Macro-Situation Analysis: Organisational Strategies 81
5 Meso-Analysis for Policy Strategy: Interaction Strategies 94
6 Agenda Setting, Data Collection and Analysis Tools 107
7 Idea Generation 133
8 Conclusion: Towards Strategic Pragmatism in Policy
Strategy–Innovation, a Research Agenda for Complexity 163
Index 173
