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Strategy Survival Guide

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<strong>Strategy</strong> <strong>Survival</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> Version 2.1<br />

Prime Minister’s <strong>Strategy</strong> Unit<br />

home | strategy development | strategy skills | site index<br />

<strong>Strategy</strong> Development > Policy & Delivery Design > Tasks<br />

Developing policy options<br />

Having set a strategic direction, policy design work is needed to determine how it can be achieved. The<br />

starting point is to identify alternative policy options and appropriate policy instruments for realising the vision<br />

and objectives. The full breadth of knowledge and evidence gathered in the Research & Analysis phase,<br />

including the organisational analysis, will be relevant and important inputs.<br />

Generating Options<br />

The generation of policy options is framed by the need to work both backward from the stated strategic<br />

objectives and forwards from the guiding principles. This will help to ensure that the options generated reflect<br />

the underlying values and principles driving the strategic direction as well as directly address the most<br />

pressing issues as prioritised by the strategic objectives.<br />

This provides the opportunity for maximum creative thinking. Using techniques such as Brainstorming, 4<br />

R's and six thinking hats can help to stimulate lateral thinking and spark the generation of hypotheses about<br />

potential solutions. In addition to this creative approach it is helpful to establish a systematic process for<br />

generating policy options. A structured process for generating options helps overcome ‘blind spots’ and<br />

prevents the team converging too early by focusing on what they think they know at the expense of that<br />

which they are unaware they don’t know.<br />

Stakeholder Participation<br />

The participation of the public and key stakeholders in policy development should not be confined to a formal<br />

consultation exercise. There are many innovative ways of engaging them throughout the process that can<br />

lead to more informed, realistic and owned policies.<br />

Selecting Policy Instruments<br />

A fundamental part of developing policy options is the selection of policy instruments. In accordance with<br />

Better Regulation Taskforce Guidance, this involves recognising that regulation is only one of a wide<br />

range of options for government action, others include:<br />

• Providing information , education and advice<br />

• Encouraging voluntary agreements and self-regulation<br />

• Using economic instruments<br />

• Intervening directly by providing or commissioning a service.<br />

There are many alternative policy instruments within each category, each with their own characteristics,<br />

benefits and limitations. It is essential for strategists and policymakers alike to recognise the implications of<br />

instrument choice, not least for the level of inter-dependency created between government and third parties<br />

and the additional complexity this creates.<br />

Useful links:<br />

> encouraging creativity<br />

> creativity techniques<br />

> Code of Practice on Consultation<br />

> BRTF Guidance: Alternatives to Regulation<br />

> alternative policy instruments<br />

<strong>Strategy</strong> <strong>Survival</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> – <strong>Strategy</strong> Development<br />

Page 37

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