This paper presents an approach to public policy analysis using the theoretical framework offered by Mantzavinos, North and Shariq (2004). Indeed, the theory of cognitive institutionalism will be connected with the fundamental concepts in public policy. The concept of collective learning it’s addressed in the formulation and implementation stages of public policy; successively I will claim on the need to define the purpose of the evaluation from a decentralized approach to conclude that by using this framework it s provided an operational treatment of culture, which assists the understanding and relevance of collective learning and dissimilar adaptation at the different stages of the public policy cycle.