How can we determine if the policy is a good policy? In other words, you have achieved the desired goals of the organization and the 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 auditing tool to identify any documentation deficiencies 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 organizational leadership.
Due process has been observed in the development stage.
Stakeholders have been included in the development.
The public interest has been given high priority.
The organization’s expectations have been met.
The policy is likely to be efficient and effective.
The results are expressed in measurable terms.
There is the ability to evaluate the results.
It has been adequately funded and resourced.
There is a clear responsibility.
Follow all appropriate laws.
It is executable.
It is historically informed.
The ideas have been tested before implementation.
The results of the policy are clearly stated.
The policy must have a clear purpose and outcome 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 a policy is being implemented to support an organization in its growth and development, it is imperative that the results of the policy are clearly stated so that everyone understands why the policy has been implemented based on the expectations of the policy.
The assumptions are explicit.
Part of the policy statement should clearly state why the policy has been written and what it is expected to achieve with its implementation. Part of the consultative process prior to policy implementation should be a test of the process and ideas of 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 aimed at solving the specific problem might not necessarily exist throughout the organization. The assumptions that have been made about why a policy needs to be implemented must be tested within the organizational context. Is a perceived problem in a department a rules problem that needs to be addressed from an organizational point of view or is it a specific problem related to that department and did it have particular staff within the department?
There is a link with the organizational leadership.
Policy makers must ensure that policies are linked to the overall direction and goals of the organization. The overall business framework will provide some strategic direction and will be important in evaluating 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 times, the policy of time through its implementation can actually hinder staff in achieving the objectives of the organization. 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 obstacles to staff and allow them to better reach their full potential.
Due process has been respected.
Organizational rules and principles must be clearly established and understood as part of the policy development process. It is essential that all the components of the organization have some input in the development of policies.
Policy implemented in one department may appear 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 should be developed and implemented to allow policy development to occur in a concise and attractive manner so that all aspects of the organization have their contribution to policy development and implementation.
Stakeholders have been included.
In other words, stakeholders, those who are directly affected by the implementation of the policy and the outcomes of the policy, must develop some inclusive process by which 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 a proper consultative strategy needs to be implemented as part of the policy development process.
One of the important issues that stakeholders who are invited to participate in policy development may develop is the expectation of each stakeholder that their specific outcomes or wishes will be achieved through the implementation of the policy. It is often difficult, in fact, almost impossible to achieve all the desired results from each stakeholder group.
One of the key components of policy development is discussing with each of the stakeholder groups the results of the policies to be implemented. When these results clearly do not meet stakeholder expectations, it is imperative that the organization identify these issues and resolve these conflicts as much as possible.
The public interest has been given high priority.
Public All government policy must have a fundamental public interest. In other words, the policy has been written with the overall result and the expectation that the public will be better off as a result of the implementation of a policy. One of the main challenges for the government as it implements the policy is to ensure that the impacts of the policy do not have harmful effects on community members.
The organization’s expectations have been met.
Policy writers must realize that they have two audiences that they deal with: the first audience is a group of people that the policy has a direct impact on. 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 can be altered to some extent. The second audience and often the most crucial audience are other leaders within the organization. Have leaders’ expectations addressed and realized in the policy outcome. 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 must have a clear understanding of the organization’s expectations and what the intention and outcome of the policy is as they develop it.
The policy is likely to be effective.
The envisaged policy is to achieve a specific result, the result must be effective in terms of the impact it has on the organization. Part of the consultative process is carried out appropriately and will help identify areas where the policy may not be effective within the organization.
The policy 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 where a cost impact on the organization is significant.
The policy 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 characteristic 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.
It is adequately funded
An organization must not only ensure that its policies and policy development initiatives are adequately and adequately funded, but it is imperative to identify and reserve the funds necessary for their implementation. Your organization must have a budget for these initiatives; stay within budget.
Clear responsibility
It should be readily apparent in the policy which people and departments are responsible for what actions and within what time frame. Everyone from 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 directly responsible.
Follow all appropriate laws
Policies, whether within government or commercial organizations, must comply with certain laws. If policy officers are unsure whether their proposed policy crosses any legal lines, then the organization’s attorneys should be consulted. Failure to do so and allowing inappropriate policies to be adopted for implementation could be very costly at the legal level.
It is executable
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 is not paying attention to past experiences, they often find themselves “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.
Ideas have been tested
Ideas can be tested through “field trials” or “dry trials”. However, in a more practical way, testing can be done by looking back with a historical view, as mentioned above. Consultations with staff and others who understand and have a better “first-hand” experience can also be helpful when testing a proposed policy.
For the policy implementation to be effective in the policy outcomes to be achieved, it is crucial that an audit of the policy is conducted prior to implementation using the 17 criteria above as a guide.
The 17 characteristics of a good policy also provide a solid foundation that allows the policy to be reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis. It is critical that the existing policy is regularly reviewed and evaluated to ensure that the policy outcomes and organizational objectives that were originally intended to be achieved are still being achieved.