1-Day Workshop
Facilitated by: Professor Scott Prasser and Dr Gary Johns
Aims
The primary aim of the workshop is to introduce practitioners to the essential elements of the real process and the key activities and skills needed to be a proactive, rather than reactive, policy player.
Great stress is given to identifying the different processes, steps in policy development, frameworks for analysis and checklists which practitioners can realistically apply across a variety of different policy areas, institutional settings, and situations, to achieve more effective outcomes.
The workshop firmly places the policy development process in context of the public sector environment and the real tasks, pressures, problems and choices which practitioners have to successfully manage.
Attention is given to how policy can be promoted, and how can become more effective advocates of their policy choices in various forums within and outside government. Particular emphasis is given to not just about having the 'right' policy, but also about being able to use argument to persuade others to accept the policy.
Key issues for discussion in this workshop include:
- Defining policy
- Importance of policy in the political and social agenda
- Sources and drivers of policy
- Mapping policy environments
- Analytical frameworks
- Policy agenda
- Defining policy problems
- 'Good' policy criteria
- Policy advocacy - facts/values/opinions, preparing and analysing arguments
Methodology
Facilitators will lead discussion, providing key concepts, outline relevant issues and provide 'core' information for participants to discuss and analyse. The approach is interactive with role-plays, case studies and hypothetical scenarios being used.
This workshop equips participants to:
- appreciate the different characteristics of 'policy';
- understand the different conceptual frameworks for analysing policy-making;
- identify the key processes of policy development;
- develop criteria for predicting emerging issues;
- recognise 'good' policy;
- appreciate the meaning and importance of policy advocacy;
- comprehend the key institutions, forums and locations for seeking to influence policy, including the media;
- distinguish between facts, opinions and values in policy debate;
- think strategically about policy promotion and implementation; and
- develop and critically assess argument in policy promotion.
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