Title: An ex-ante assessment procedure for science and technology policy cycle through institutional compatibility perspective

Authors: Sha'ban Elahi; Naser Norouzi; Hojat Hajihoseini; Alireza Hasanzadeh

Addresses: Department of Information Technology Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal-Ale-Ahmad Highway, Nasr Bridge, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Information Technology Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal-Ale-Ahmad Highway, Nasr Bridge, Tehran, Iran ' Chief of New Technology Laboratories, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Sh. Ehsani Rad St., Enqelab St., Parsa Sq., Ahmadabad Mostoufi Rd., Azadegan Highway, P.O. Box 3353-5111, Tehran 3353136846, Iran ' Department of Information Technology Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal-Ale-Ahmad Highway, Nasr Bridge, Tehran 14115-111, Iran

Abstract: It is essential to consider policy assessment in the policy cycle. However, the ex-ante evaluation has been rarely investigated in the policy evaluation literature. The purpose of this article is to propose a five-step procedure for the ex-ante science and technology (ST) policy assessment in the policy cycle. This assessment procedure measures the compatibility level of policy instruments with institutions through three stages as policy formulation, policy implementation and policy evaluation. Then, in order to determine the proposed procedure, we utilise the grounded theory through interviews and document reviews. At the end, we select and review a ST policy in Iran as a case. The results show that policies will not be successfully implemented if we do not consider involved institutions in society. This procedure is applicable for the ex-ante evaluations in the context of Iranian science and technology policy and other similar contexts.

Keywords: ex-ante assessment; grounded theory; institutional compatibility; policy making; science policy; science and technology policy; policy assessment; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2016.081656

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2016 Vol.16 No.4, pp.279 - 303

Received: 23 Sep 2015
Accepted: 17 Jan 2016
Published online: 19 Jan 2017 *

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