Step 2: Plan

Step 2: Plan

Once the policy proposal has been approved, you may want to outline a more comprehensive policy development plan. Planning is a critical step in policy development. Comprehensive planning helps:

• Clarify timelines and manage deadlines set by approval bodies.
• Secure buy-in and early agreement on policy scope.
• Predict and manage possible risks such as delays due to consultation outcomes.
• Ensure continuity if key people in policy development change.
• Plan and time appropriate formal consultation.
• Support future reviews of the policy by recording your actions and decision points.

Recommended Steps 

• Read through the whole online Policy Development Guide to understand the different stages of policy development.
• Draft a comprehensive plan in collaboration with all people involved in developing and drafting policy. The Policy Plan Template/Tool (docx) will give you pointers on what to include in your plan.
• Your approved Policy Proposal will provide the bare bones for the plan. See also the Checklist for Qualities of a Good Policy (pdf) and the Policy Submission Checklist (pdf) to help you draft a plan.
• By the end of the planning you should be clear on:
  • Scope of the development/review
  • Relevant stakeholders to involve in development, drafting and consultation phases
  • Timelines and approval steps
  • Communication and implementation planning
  • Any supporting documents to be developed with the policy. The Policy vs Procedure - Explanatory Note (pdf) may help you decide whether to develop a procedure to support the policy.
• Agree plan with all relevant parties such as possible policy working group and any other committee/group you are reporting to on the policy.
• Track progress against the plan throughout the process.

Outcomes

• Policy Development Plan