Edinburgh Napier University

  Implementation is an important stage in the policy cycle yet is often considered the ‘black box’ within the public policy process. Since the late 1960s, implementation studies have grown substantially, and many scholars have attempted to address the missing links that often occur between policy decision intent and policy performance, or implementation outcome. In this chapter, we apply different understandings of implementation to analyse the issue of failed bus policy change in the UK and the challenges associated with bus policy implementation in a deregulated market. A hybrid understanding of implementation challenges is found to be valuable, which requires policymakers to not only think about clarifying goals, legislation, and funding but also about how they can facilitate participation and engagement for those on the ground.