Realizing Complex Policy
�� goals of the component policyowners and agents ; and use partnering and connective planning as supportive processes .
10 . Complex Policy — Rules of the Road
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Complex policy objectives are defined in high-level goals that can remain relevant over time . Do not define the policy detail beyond the certainty horizon . Use multiple systems thinking methodologies to develop a holistic understanding of the policy . These methodologies will provide different views that may be contradictory . Emergent behavior occurs in complex policies , where unexpected outcomes occur that cannot be predicted by knowledge of the policy ’ s constituent parts . “ Unexpected ” means unintentional , not purposely or consciously designed-in , not known in advance , or surprising to the developers and users of the policy . The emergent outcomes of a complex policy can result from either the internal relationships among the component part of the complex policy , or as a response to its external environment . Complex policies bring together multiple component policies to deliver a higher-order goal . Complex policies establish systems the only purpose of which is to enable the inter-operation of the other component policies . Complex policyowners need agents outside of their direct control to develop and deliver complex policies . These agents will adapt policy delivery solutions to their own purposes and local conditions that will themselves change over time .
�� Complex program owners operate in an environment where they do not control all of the component policies or agents that impact the policy , and stakeholders have interests beyond the complex policy ’ s objectives .
�� Complex policyowners must balance the complex policy ’ s needs and goals with individual component policyowners and agents ’ needs and goals .
�� Policy design , implementation , and delivery must consider and leverage the development plans of the individual systems and establish a governance system to manage change .
�� Focus primarily on the end-to-end behavior of the complex policy , and address the constituent systems only from that perspective . �� Use right to left thinking . �� Use a policy design based on open systems and loose coupling to support the addition or removal of component policies , as well as ongoing emergence .
11 . References
Acheson , P ., L . Pape , N . Kilicay-Ergin , and J . Columbi . 2012 . Understanding Systems of Systems Development Using an Agent Based WAVE Model . Washington DC : Complex Adaptive Systems , Missouri University of Science and Technology .
Agusdinata , B ., and D . DeLaurentis . 2008 . “ Specification of Systems-of-Systems for Policymaking in the Energy Sector .” The International Assessment Journal 8 ( 2 ): 1 – 24 .
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US Department of Defense , DoD Guide to Integrated Process and Product Development . Version 1.0 February 5 , 1996 .
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