Realizing Complex Policy
Complex policy objectives , strategy , and political support
The political systems-of-systems for complex policy addresses ( refer Figure 15 ) the definition of goals , the design , implementation , and ongoing emergent management strategy , and most importantly obtaining and maintaining political support .
Complex policy emergent implementation
The implementation SoS delivers the establishment of the policy ’ s enabling network and machinery of government as well as the ongoing management of the policy and the network ( refer Figure 16 ). This network responds to changes in the policy goals and scope directed from the political systems-of-systems .
Complex policy meta systems-of-systems
The complex policy meta systems-of-systems ( refer Figure 17 ) integrates the political policy systems-of-systems , and the policy implementation and emergent management systems-of systems .
5 . Stewardship and Process Governance
Stewardship is generally recognized as the acceptance or assignment of responsibility to shepherd and safeguard the valuables of others .
Complex policies are emergent , use systems-of-systems as their design and implementation structure , and involve multiple independent component policyowners and agents working together to deliver high-level goals . Therefore , governance for systems-of-systems is difficult for the design and manage mindset of the traditional command and control approach . While the policy systems-of-systems owner establishes high-level goals , the component policyowners and agents cannot be made to adhere to any individual set of goals and rules that are defined . In fact , there may be many component policyowners and agents with a variety of different and , perhaps , competing goals .
Developing stewardship 11 between the policyowner , the component policyowners and agents is a critical aspect for the journey management of complex policies ( Refer Figure 18 ). Stewardship is operationalized through process governance 12 and WAVE Planning . Complex policies are not just ‘ complex systems ’ bounded by the fixed rules of interaction between their parts — rather , they are ‘ complex evolving systems ’ that can change the rules of their development as they evolve over time .
Process governance provides the stewardship that drives the journey , holds the policy systems-of-systems focused upon the emergent policy goals and supports an emergent strategy ( as opposed to maintaining the status quo ). Throughout the journey , process governance maintains the strategic focus for the policy as the stakeholders ’ views change . Process governance proactively uses double loop learning to deal with changes to stakeholder views , and thereby maintains stakeholder alignment , commitment and stewardship . Through process governance , multiple and often opposing views are accommodated , and the policy systems-of-systems owner is provided with genuine control .
When developing a single , standalone policy , the policyowner has directive control and authority within their organizations and can effectively enforce governance over the components they own . Even when multiple organizations are involved , the policyowner must have directive au-
41