Effective Politics – 17 Characteristics of a Good Policy
How do we go about determining whether the policy is a good policy? In other words, you have achieved the organization’s desired goals and required results.
A relatively simple way to determine if the policy is effective is to apply the following 17 criteria. The 17 features can be used as an audit tool to identify any deficiencies in the documentation prior to implementation.
The 17 characteristics of a good policy are;
The results are clearly stated.
The assumptions are clear and explicit.
There is a link with the organization’s management.
Due process has been observed in the development stage.
Stakeholders have been included in the development.
High priority has been given to the public interest.
The expectations of the organization have been met.
The policy is likely to be efficient and effective.
The results are expressed in measurable terms.
There is an ability to evaluate the results.
It has been duly funded and well resourced.
There is clear accountability.
Follow all appropriate laws.
It is required.
It is historically informed.
Ideas have been tested before implementation.
The results of the policy are clearly stated.
The policy must have a clear purpose and outcome if it is to be of any value to the organization. It is important that staff recognize the problem that is being addressed through the implementation of the policy. It is extremely difficult to implement a policy in a situation where people do not perceive the need to develop or implement a specific policy unit. If the policy is implemented to support an organization in its growth and development, it is imperative that the outcomes of the policy are clearly stated so that everyone understands why the policy was implemented and what the expectations of the policy are.
The assumptions are explicit.
Part of the policy statement should clearly state why the policy has been written and what is expected to be achieved by its implementation. Part of the consultative process prior to implementing the policy should be a test of the process and ideas about why the policy should be implemented. One of the common problems within organizations is that people at all levels of the organization believed that next year’s policy meant to solve the specific problem may not necessarily exist throughout the organization. Assumptions that have been made about why the policy needs to be implemented must be tested within the organizational context. Is it a perceived issue in a department, a rules issue that needs to be addressed from an organizational standpoint, or is it a specific issue related to that department and had particular staff within the Department.
There is a link with the organization’s management.
Policymakers must ensure that policies link to the overall direction and goals of the organization. The overall business framework will provide some strategic direction and will be important in assessing the direction of organizational policies. Policy writers must ensure that the policy supports existing policies and procedures within the organization. One of the tests of a good policy is that it supports the organization in achieving its goals and objectives. Often the time policy through its implementation can, in fact, hinder the achievement of organizational goals by staff. Policies should be seen as pillars that support the structure of an organization. The policy should be written in such a way as to remove barriers for staff and better enable them to reach their full potential.
Due process has been observed.
Organizational rules and principles should be clearly established and understood as part of the policy development process. It is crucial that all components of the organization have some input in the development of the policy.
Policy implemented in one department may seem fair and reasonable until that policy has a detrimental effect on other parts of the organization as a whole.
As part of the organizational framework, the structure that will allow policy development to be carried out in a concise and attractive manner must be developed and implemented, so that all aspects of the organization have their input in policy development and implementation.
Stakeholders have been included.
Stakeholders, in other words those who are directly affected by the implementation of the policy and the results of the policy, should have some inclusive process in place whereby they can participate in the development of the policy. Therefore, part of the policy development process is to clearly identify who all the stakeholders are. And an appropriate consultative strategy must be implemented as part of the policy development process.
One of the important issues that can arise when stakeholders are invited to participate in policy development is the expectation of each stakeholder that their specific outcomes or desires will be achieved through policy implementation. It is often difficult, indeed nearly impossible, to achieve all of the desired results from each stakeholder group.
One of the key components of policy development is discussing with each of the stakeholder groups the outcomes of the policies to be implemented. When these results clearly do not meet the expectations of the interested parties, it is imperative that the organization identify these problems and resolve these conflicts as much as possible.
High priority has been given to the public interest.
All public public policy must have as its main public interest. In other words, has the policy been written with the overall result and the expectation that the public will be better off as a result of implementing a policy? One of the main challenges for the government when implementing the policy is to ensure that the impacts of the policy do not have harmful effects on the members of the community.
The expectations of the organization have been met.
Policy writers must realize that they have two audiences they are dealing with. The first audience is a group of people on whom the policy has a direct impact. In other words, the personnel who will be directly affected by the implementation of the policy. Staff may be required to implement new procedures as a result of the implementation of the new policy. Your work practices may change to some extent. The second audience, and often a more crucial audience, are other leaders within the organization. Ensure that the expectations of the leaders are addressed and fulfilled in the outcome of the policy. It is of little use for the policy to be presented at a board meeting to find that the majority of the board does not, in fact, support the intent of the policy or the specific outcomes.
Policy writers need to have a clear understanding of the organization’s expectations and what the intent of the policy is and the outcome as they develop the policy.
The policy is likely to be effective.
The intended policy is to achieve a specific result and the result must be effective in terms of the impact it has on the organization. Part of the consultation process is carried out appropriately and will help identify areas where the policy may not be effective within the organization.
Politics is efficient and profitable.
Policy directives must ensure that the organization’s resources are used appropriately. Very little is achieved from the new policy that is implemented in a cost impact on the organization is significant.
Politics is measurable
This refers to measurable indicators that will provide evidence that a specific policy is having the desired effect. This is especially useful for the evaluation stage of the policy cycle.
There is evaluation capacity.
As indicated in the desired feature above, the ability to measure the effectiveness of any policy gives it the ability to be evaluated. Policy evaluation helps an organization determine effectiveness and potential areas where change is needed, allowing that particular organization to work at its most efficient level.
is adequately funded
An organization must not only ensure that its policies and policy development initiatives are adequately and appropriately funded, it is imperative to identify and set aside the necessary funds for their implementation. Your organization must have a budget for these initiatives; stay within budget.
clear responsibility
It should be readily apparent from the policy which people and departments are responsible for what actions and within what time frame. Everyone, from the policy officers to the direct worker, is responsible for some part of the policy, whether it is the proper use of funds, proper protocols for developments, or recommended implementations, they should be held directly accountable.
Follow all appropriate laws.
Policies, whether within government organizations or businesses, must comply with certain laws. If policy officers are unsure whether their proposed policy crosses any legal lines, then the organization’s lawyers should be consulted. Failure to do so and allowing inadequate policies to be adopted for its implementation could be very costly at the legal level.
is required
A policy that cannot be enforced is not worth the time and effort put into it, much less the paper it is written on. If the policy is practical, then it should be enforceable. If not, it may need to be reviewed and modified.
is historically informed
If an organization does not pay attention to past experiences, it often finds itself “reinventing the wheel”. It is a waste of time, effort and money. Using a good policy framework can help prevent repetition, as the organization must constantly review and revise, as necessary, all policies, learning from evaluations.
The ideas have been tested.
Ideas can be tested through “field tests” or “trials”. More practically, however, testing can be accomplished by looking back with a historical view, as mentioned above. Consultation with staff and others who understand and have better “first-hand” experience can also be helpful when testing a proposed policy.
If the implementation of the policy is to be effective in the policy results to be achieved, it is crucial that an audit of the policy is carried out prior to implementation using the above 17 criteria as a guide.
The 17 Characteristics of a Good Policy also provide a solid foundation to allow the policy to be periodically reviewed and evaluated. It is essential that the existing policy is regularly reviewed and evaluated to ensure that the results of the policy and organizational objectives that it was originally intended to achieve are still being achieved.