Policy is a deliberate system of guidelines to assist in decision making and achieve rational outcomes. Policies are a form of government action that guide resource allocation and can take the form of rules, regulations, procedures, administrative actions, incentives and voluntary practices.
The process of policymaking refers to the formulating and implementation of policies, as well as efforts by different groups to influence the forming of government policy. Frequently, policies assist in subjective decision-making, but can also be used to address objective problems.
Oftentimes, a policy’s scope is broad and cannot contemplate all possible scenarios, which is why policies should be written in clear, concise language (not legalese) to ensure that they can be understood by your audience. Further detail can be provided in related procedures and guidelines.
In addition to clearly explaining what is expected of users, a policy should also outline consequences for non-compliance to reinforce the importance and impact of following guidelines and expectations. Finally, it is recommended that policies be regularly reviewed and updated to keep up with regulatory changes and business needs.
Creating a new policy can be an involved and time-consuming process, so be sure to think through your goals and objectives before you begin. Depending on your situation, it may be more appropriate to revise an existing policy instead of attempting to create one from scratch. Also, be sure to consult with a wide range of stakeholders during the policy development and review process to gather perspectives and make your policy as inclusive as possible.
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