There are also some significant shortcom- ings with regard to the utility aspect of sociol ogy in public policy analysis. First of all, sociology tends to portray and conceptualise power in ways which makes it difficult to employ in a meaningful way in public policy. To most sociologists, power or control is derived from (nominally) non-political vari ables such as the economy or social status. Thus, power is rarely seen as something com ing out of the policy process. That said, there may certainly be some value in the insight that political power is not the only source of influ ence and control in society but it might not be useful when designing public policy. Another aspect of sociological theory which to some extent obstructs its utility in public policy is that it is not a discipline directed towards choice, options and decision-making