Determine the primary criticism of the stages model
The primary criticism of the stages model is that it tends to be front-loaded, which means, more attention is paid to policy analysis than to policy implementation as a result many policy reforms are not implemented at all, or if they are implemented, lead to quite unintended and often unsatisfactory outcomes. But, the important thing is that we should not assume that policy making is a highly coherent and rational process, with a beginning, middle, and an end-that each part leads logically and inexorably to each succeeding part. It can be very useful to think of agenda setting, decision making, and implementation as distinct phases in the policy cycle, often (but not always) involving distinct participants and processes. But they do not necessarily follow each other through time in any regular or consistent pattern. Grindle and Thomas offer a more interactive version of the stages model. Their central insight is that "a policy reform initiative may be altered or reversed at any stage ... by the pressures and reactions of those who oppose it".