Realizing Complex Policy
Bespoke
The bespoke strategy is suited to policy areas where the policy can be fully designed and planned in advance , and when a centralized and directive control system can effectively supervise the policy ’ s implementation and delivery . The bespoke strategy uses an evidence-based deductive approach in policy design , and a linear , centralized , and directive approach in planning for implementation and delivery of policies ( Refer to Figure 10 ).
The bespoke strategy defines specific goals and develops detailed implementation plans , in a manner similar to the engineering design process used for infrastructure construction . In the same way that engineers use specific plans to manage the delivery of infrastructure , governments use bespoke strategies as levers to drive change in society .
Key to the bespoke strategy is the capability of the design process to turn the government ’ s brief into highly detailed and integrated plans and specifications . The bespoke strategy is dependent upon the accuracy of the design and the implementation and delivery strategy to deliver a fully operational service from ‘ day one ’.
Traditional project management and systems engineering provide reliable tools and processes for the implementation and delivery of detailed bespoke policies .
Policies can fail when the wrong strategy is selected . For example , policies that have a high reliance on technology or software applications are suited to emergent policy strategies that enable technical risks and service delivery models to be resolved before a broad rollout of the policy .
Evolutionary
An evolutionary strategy is based
upon the same processes that are used by the bespoke strategy , applying them sequentially to progressively refine and build the capability of the policy . The evolutionary strategy is suited to complicated policies that require the integration of multiple bespoke policies .
There are two types of evolutionary strategy :
Staged Evolutionary Strategy : As shown in Figure 11 , the staged evolutionary strategy allows for an initial version of the policy to be released ( providing a limited policy scope ), with subsequent iteration of the policy delivering greater policy scope .
The staged evolutionary strategy uses pilot projects and a staged rollout of the policy — for example , the establishment of a central agency for social services that brings together multiple component policy areas into a one-stop shop . The policy implementation risks are greatly reduced through using a staged evolutionary strategy to merge and integrate the multiple services .
Refinement Evolutionary Strategy : In the refinement strategy , an initial policy design and realization plan are completed , and then progressively refined through a series of reviews and development cycles . This strategy is focused on decreasing uncertainty and increasing integration prior to the policy ’ s implementation and delivery .
A refinement evolutionary strategy is very effective in progressively introducing more levels of detail and issues into a policy . However , the effectiveness of this strategy is dependent upon the rigor of the design management process .
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