How Organisations Attempt to Influence Public Policy

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Special Interest Groups and Non Governmental Organisations

Special interest groups are private-sector organizations whose members share common interests or positions on public policy and who pool their resources to gain a more prominent voice in policy debates. There are literally thousands of such groups representing almost every conceivable interest. Some organizations have a long history of working toward a general goal, while others are formed temporarily to advocate for or against a specific policy proposal.

Prominent examples of special interest groups are those that advocate for environmental protection, benefits for senior citizens, protection for minority groups and free trade policies. Organisions concerned with policy relating to telehealth activities include the American Telemedicine Acssociation (ATA) (1). In terms of the advancement of issues relating to ageing and technology, the Centre for Ageing Services and Technology (CAST)(2) is very prominent. The Continua Alliance (3) is an example of an organisation that are working on common issues regarding telemonitoring devices interoperability.

It should also be borne in mind that just as there are certain groups in support of particular policy, there may also be counter groups against the same policy. So just because a technology for example seems to make sense to certain groups, doesnt mean to say that the opinion is unanimous and that lobbying for policy change is straightforward. A good example of this is the Privacy debate currently happening in the RFID world. See the Privacy & Security CAPSIL particular section Not Everyone is Enthusiastic About this Technology.

Public Policy Research Organisations

These organizations, sometimes called "think tanks," conduct original research, publish books and articles and prepare position papers on topics related to public policy. Their experts often come from induatry but hold academic posts also. Their published works often are cited by others to support their own positions. A example in Ireland is the Economics and Social Research Institue (ESRI) (4). The stated mission of the ESRI is ..."The ESRI produces high-quality research that contributes to understanding economic and social change and that informs public policymaking and civil society in Ireland and throughout the European Union".

Some prominent think tanks with a long history of contributing to US public policy debate include the Brookings Institution, the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Trade Associations and Labour Unions

Trade associations are membership organizations that represent the interests of a particular industry or profession. They communicate the concerns of their members to policymakers both in the legislative and executive branches. Just as important, they report back to their members about new policies, rules and proposals so that the members are educated about what is required of them. Very strong examples in Europe include the fisheries and agriculture organisations. In the RFID world organisations such as Global Standards One GS1 (5) and the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (6) are notable Trade Associations.

Even though the primary purpose of labor unions is to represent their members in negotiations with employers, unions also play a significant role in influencing public policy. In speaking for their members, their input is considered whenever trade, environmental, workplace safety, health care and other key issues are debated. Unions are considered influential because of their ability to mobilize their members to vote and speak out. Unlike business associations, which typically represent a relatively small number of companies, trade unions represent thousands or millions of workers, who are also voters.

Individual Businesses

Private citizens and businesses commonly form coalitions or interest groups to make their voices heard within government, but many also take steps on their own to influence government policy. These activities include writing to their elected officials about particular policies, writing letters to the editor of their local newspaper and appearing at hearings and other public functions where policy is debated. Because businesses are affected to a great degree by government policies, many corporations have established government relations offices to represent their interests in Washington, Brussels and other centres of power.

References

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