Policy development: a more formal systems approach process

Abstract

Policy developers in corporate and governance roles are often developing policies by means of policy development cycles that typically resemble a system life cycle approach. Although policy development cycles often vary, depending on the applicable industry sector, it could be argued that these cycles resemble a general informal type of non-rigorous systems approach. Upon acceptance, policies are typically implemented within a specific stakeholder target domain. Upon policy implementation, negative consequences are often observed, due to the application and use of a specific policy. It is argued that, should policy development cycles be more rigorous, so-called “un-foreseen” consequences could be sufficiently reduced – a more formal systems approach is suggested. The similarity between the classical systems approach and typical current policy development life-cycles are striking. The rigorous systems approach, as often used in Systems Engineering projects, could be adapted, and thus provide the rigour needed to improve on current policy development processes. Policies could only be developed once the problem has been defined. The solution can then be designed and formulated to define the required structure and behaviour, of the implementation. A more formalised systems approach towards policy development is suggested - to provide the procedural rigour currently lacking.