SUPREME MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

CHARLES COTTER
27 NOVEMBER 2012
RANDBURG TOWERS

PRESENTATION
OVERVIEW
Introduction
Key points
Summary
Questions

INTRODUCTORY
LEARNING ACTIVITY
Complete the activity on page 2
Elaborate on your choice of word

association

DEFINING THE
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
Policy:
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to

guide decisions and achieve rational outcome/s.

A purposive course of action based on societal values,

followed in dealing with a matter or concern, and

predicting the outcome that would result from the
achievement of the purpose

Public policy:
Policy serving as the enabling and guiding framework for

government in all sectors and at all levels.

PUBLIC POLICY
Public policy is all about:
The intentions of the legislative authority

towards society
The direction in which the legislator wants to

steer society
The utilization of national resources

DISTINCTIVE
CHARACTERISTICS OF
POLICIES
Authoritative
Enforceable
Flexible and adaptable
Feasible
Clear
Transparent
Consultative

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
Complete the activity on pages 8-9
Provide feedback

PUBLIC POLICY
FORMULATION PROCESS

PHASE 1: INITIATION

Step
Step
Step
Step

1: Agenda-setting/issue (problem) identification

2: Policy instruments
3: Policy analysis
4: Stakeholder engagement, consultation and co-ordination

PHASE 2: GENERATION
Step 5: Policy formulation, decision-making and policy drafting

PHASE 3: IMPLEMENTATION
Step 6: Policy implementation

PHASE 4: EVALUATION
Step 7: Policy monitoring and evaluation

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2
Complete the activity on pages 11-12
Provide feedback

STEP 1: AGENDASETTING/PROBLEM
IDENTIFICATION
Process of identifying policy issues/problems, which require the

attention of a legislator

Process wherein the members of society identify their needs, desires

and demands and wherein a legislator decides to place these issues

on the agenda for deliberation

The setting of the policy agenda allows a legislator to become

sensitized to some of the critical policy requirements that affect

society.

Issue identification can be conducted by forecasting the future with

the use of extrapolative techniques such as the Delphi technique,

brainstorming and scenario sketching

The origin/source of the various organizational policy-related issues

Prioritization of issues

STEP 2: POLICY
INSTRUMENTS/SOURCES
Legislation and government policy and priorities
Taxation (the budget)
Persuasion (and public pressure)
Inspection and audits
Minutes of meetings
Legislative records
Provision of services
Newsletter, media briefings and community

meetings

STEP 3: POLICY
ANALYSIS
Step-by-step way of unpacking and understanding policy

choices and comparing possible outcomes

Policy

analysis needs to explore as rationally and

honestly as possible the implications and possible
outcomes of adopting policy

The importance and value of continual policy analysis

Policy analysis is an attempt to determine the costs and

benefits of various alternatives or to evaluate the

validity of existing policies e.g. Force field analysis

Policy

analysis is an attempt to bring about and

transform information pertinent to particular policies to
resolve problems pertaining to those policies

THE VALUE AND

BENEFITS OF POLICY
ANALYSIS
To determine whether they are in effect contributing towards

the general well-being of society and/or serving the best

interests of organizational stakeholders

The making of rational choices in policy

Assists

the stakeholders in policy to comprehend the

importance of values, particular interests and business
considerations

Provides tangible facts

Compares

not only objectives or resources, but also

alternative programmes, it makes errors easy to identify
by working with historical contexts and bears in mind that
senior managers must implement policies and that citizens
are involved

STEP 3: POLICY
ANALYSIS continued
The role of the policy analyst:
Advisor
Advocate

Pre-requisites for policy analysis:

Refer to pages 18-20

6-STEP POLICY ANALYSIS

PROCESS
Identify the underlying values and aspirations
Understand the problem in its context
Identify the alternative courses of actions
Decide

which
important

dimensions

of

the

problem

are

most

Predict the likely outcomes of different courses of action

Measure the chosen courses of action against important

values and aspirations

STEP 4: STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT, CONSULTATION
AND CO-ORDINATION
Objective: To ensure accountability, responsiveness

and openness and upholding the right to access to any

information held by the state

Constant interaction with society

Extensive consultation and co-ordination between the

various stakeholders

Interest groups e.g. civic society; associations and

lobbyists

Public participation

STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
Step 1: Identify stakeholders
Step 2: Prioritize stakeholders
Step 3: Get to know and understand stakeholders
Step 4: Stakeholder relationship management

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3
Complete the activity on pages 25-26
Provide feedback

STEP 5: POLICY
FORMULATION AND
ADOPTION
Factors to consider
Policy

recommendations are normally drafted by senior

managers and then referred to higher management authority for
deliberation, approval and adoption

It remains the responsibility of the highest decision-making

authority (executive powers) to approve or reject a

particular policy recommendation

The matter could be referred back to management for further

investigation

A policy-maker or decision maker has to be sure of the ability of

officials to actually execute a policy - administrative,

operational and managerial capacity to implement the
decision

POLICY
CONTENT/TEMPLATE
Purpose statement
Applicability and scope
Background/Contextualization
Definitions
An effective date
A responsibilities section e.g. oversight and governance

structures

Policy

statements
- rules - indicating the specific
regulations,
requirements,
or
modifications
to
organizational behavior that the policy is creating

LEARNING ACTIVITY 4
Complete the activity on page 30
Provide feedback

CONCLUSION
Summary
Questions
Contact details:
Charles Cotter
+27 84 562 9446
charlescot@polka.co.za
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