Strategies to Influence Political Decision-Making: A Case Study at Clark County

1. Strategies to Influence Political Decision-Making: A Case Study at Clark County Carolyn Heniges, PE, PLS Capstone Project - Portland State University June 2010

2. Introduction • Problem Definition • Key Research Questions • Research Methodology • Outcome/Findings • Significance/Implications • Acknowledgements • Questions

3. Problem Definition • Engineers trained in sciences, engineering principles – objective, predictable, standards • Civil engineers’ primary role – protect ‘public’ safety, health and welfare and 30% of civil engineers move into administrative positions • Not prepared for politics or public policy-making – appears irrational, messy and emotional (subjective)

4. Key Research Questions • How does engineering rationality differ from political rationality? • What do engineers need to know for successful policy-making and democratic governance? • What strategies can engineers learn to influence political decision-making ?

5. Research Methodology • Policy-Making and Democratic Governance • Literature Research – Stone, Morgan & Birkland • Develop Strategies to Influence Political Decision-making • Literature Research – Stone & Jensen • Organized thirty-three strategies into six groups • Survey of Org. Members to Determine • Ranking ‘Effective’ Strategies • Use of Data/Evidence (testing hypotheses)

6. Policy Making & Dem. Governance The King George Problem Corrective: Responsive Governance The Engaged Citizen Problem Corrective: Civic Governance The Democratic Balancewheel(Morgan, et al) The George Washington Problem Corrective: Competent and Energetic Governance The Shay’s Rebellion Problem Corrective: Minority Rights and Access to Governance • Articles of Confederation, Jacksonian and Populist Legacies • Deliberative gov’t • Smaller/weaker gov’t • Citizen legislature • Open government • Initiative process • Preference for non-monopolistic private markets • Referendum process • Anti-Federalist, Great Society Legacies • Citizen participation • Co-production • Local control • Decentralized administration • Face-to-face gov’t • Small, frugal gov’t • Federalist, Progressive and Entrepreneurial Legacies • Systematic planning • Efficiency • Effectiveness • Energetic government • Career civil service • Contracting out • Customer service • Federalism/filtering • Federalist, New Deal, Great Society – Strong Legal Legacies • Bill of rights • Equal treatment • Due process • Open government • Accountability protocols • Interest balancing The Extended Republic Federalism Pluralism

7. Political Rationality • Politics – sphere of emotion, passion, irrationality, self-interest, shortsightedness, and raw power • Policy-making – an activity that includes rational analysis, objectivity, allegiance to truth, and pursuit of the well-being of the society as a whole • Value based • Best solutions are often balanced trade-offs Policy Paradox, Deborah Stone (2002)

8. Engineering Rationality • Based on objectivity • Evidence/data valued • Preciseness • Maximizing ‘best’ solution within criteria • Predictable, repeatable, consistent • Failure based (learned lessons) • Follows rules, laws, standards & guidelines • Adapted to social and environmental context Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge for the 21st Century, ASCE (2008)

9. Influencing Strategies Discovered

10. Outcomes – Individual Strategies Top 10

11. Outcomes – Strategy Types

12. Findings • Hypothesis #1: Data and Evidence is needed to influence political decision-making. 78% – True Politicians 100.0% Senior Managers 51.7% Directors 77.8% Staff Engineers 75.0%

13. Findings • Hypothesis #2: The use of data and evidence needs to be combined with other strategies to be more effective at influencing political decision-making at Clark County. 96.8% – True Politicians 100.0% Senior Managers 100.0% Directors 100.0% Staff Engineers 91.7%

14. Findings • Hypothesis #3: Engineers tend to use data and evidence as their primary influencing strategy. False Ranked 27th out of 33 strategies for Engineers

15. Significance/Implications • Model of Society Model of Engineering Reasoning • Model of Policy Making • Model of Reasoning Model of Political Reasoning • Political Decision Making

16. Significance/Implications • Engineers not trained to understand or deal with politics • Civil engineers especially need this skill set since they build public infrastructure • Implications for civil engineering degree programs and continuing education • Engineers’ data/evidence is needed, and taken in the larger context of political decision-making but not always primary deciding factor

17. Key Research Questions/Answers    • How does engineering rationality differ from political rationality? • Why is the political framework necessary for successful policy-making and democratic governance? • What strategies can engineers learn to influence political decision-making ?

18. Acknowledgements • Dr. Douglas Morgan (advisor, mentor and editor) • Dr. Masami Nishishibi (research support) • Heath Henderson, PE (problem definition and litmus test) • Susan Finch (editor) • Primary Resources: • ASCE Article - Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge for the 21st Century: Preparing the Civil Engineer for the Future (2008) • Deborah Stone, Policy Paradox (2002) • Morgan et al, Foundations of Public Service (2008) • Jason Jensen, Article - Getting One’s Way In Policy Debates (2007)

19. Questions