Final answer:
Specification of alternatives is a stage in the policy process where potential solutions to a recognized government issue are considered and developed. This stage concludes when a possible solution is proposed for decision-making, following an assessment of all possible choices and their impacts by policy analysts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Specification of alternatives is a core stage in the policy process where different solutions to a policy problem are considered and developed. After problem identification in agenda setting, where a challenge is recognized as worthy of government attention, such as the rise in childhood obesity, the next subphase is alternative specification. Here, a wide range of potential solutions are examined. These may include diverse actions such as increasing funding for school physical education, improving health education, or restricting the availability of unhealthy food options in schools. The examination of alternatives concludes when a problem has been paired with a potential solution, which then goes forward for official decision making.
The public policy process includes several major phases: problem identification, setting the agenda in which specification of alternatives takes place, policy enactment, policy implementation, and evaluation. During alternative specification, policy analysts play a key role by identifying all possible choices and assessing their potential impacts. The ultimate purpose is to provide informed decision-making options without necessarily advocating for a specific choice. Brainstorming is often a helpful strategy during this stage, seeking the broadest range of ideas to address the policy design problem.