Policy and Complex Systems

model : designing the policy to a cost , or costing the policy design .

8 . Policy Categorization Tool

policy design , implementation , and delivery : bespoke , evolutionary , and emergent .

The Policy Categorization Tool ( PCAT ) ¹⁶ provides a tool for governments to categorize policies , and to select : an appropriate strategy for the design , implementation , and delivery of policies ; appropriately competent policy leaders and teams ; and appropriate governance , rules , feedback , and response for each policy category .

POLICY CATEGORIZATION TOOL

The PCAT Tool categorizes policies into one of five categories ( refer to Table 5 )

Complex Policies

Increasingly , governments are faced with policies that are not merely complicated , but truly complex . Complex policies involve changes and behaviors that cannot be predicted in detail , although those behaviors and changes can be expected to form recognizable patterns . Complex policies are also characterized by circumstances in which relatively small differences in initial conditions or relatively small perturbations ( seemingly tactical actions ) are associated with very large changes in the resulting patterns of behavior and / or strategic outcomes .

PCAT1 are policies that are driven by a vision and have the following characteristics :

�� high levels of emergence

�� �� �� high internal system complexity high external system complexity politically critical

Complicated Policies

Complicated policies are characterized by having many parts or actors , and are highly dynamic — that is , the elements of these policies constantly interact with and impact upon one another . However , the cause and effect relationships within a complicated policy are generally well understood , which allows planners to predict the consequences of specific actions with some confidence .

PCAT 3 are policies that are driven by defined outcomes / outputs and have the following characteristics : �� low to medium levels of emergence �� moderate internal system complexity �� moderate external system complexity �� moderate political importance

Traditional Policies

Traditional policies are readily decomposed into definable elements and have cause and effect relationships that are generally well understood , which allows planners to predict the consequences of specific policies with confidence .

PCAT 4 policies have the following characteristics : �� low levels of emergence �� low internal system complexity

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