3
Some aspects of the policy-making process
are very time-consuming, and effective planning
is essential.
3.8 To minimise the risk of a policy project
failing to deliver on time and on budget, it is advisable to establish a project team to take
it forward. In this way, those involved in the project have more control over their priorities
and can focus clearly on delivering on time. It is also good practice to establish a Project
Board at senior level to ensure that the project keeps on schedule and to help
resolve issues outside the direct influence of the project team. Where legislation is
required, it is essential that the necessary resources are also put in place to carry this
work forward, usually by the establishment of a Bill team.
3.9 Figure 3.1 sets out some programme or
project start-up questions which help in mapping out the various steps that need to
be completed in a policy programme or project, taking as the starting point the vision
which it is setting out to achieve. These questions should be of use to policy-makers
embarking on a project on any scale.
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Figure 3.1 - Project or programme start-up questions
1. What is our vision?
2. Who are the stakeholders?
3. What outcomes do the priority stakeholders want?
4. What mechanisms, systems, processes and changes does the vision suggest?
5. Whats the scope of this initiative? What are we prepared to do?
6. What are the success criteria?
7. What are the pre-conditions of success?
8. What are we going to have to produce?
9. Who needs to participate in the project?
10. What do we need from others?
11. How big are these things?
12. What sequence do they need to be done in?
13. What resources do we have available?
14. What assumptions are we making?
15. What are the constraints?
16. What are the barriers to success?
17. What are the likely consequences and side-effects of our success?
18. Whowhat is likely to be disadvantaged by our success?
19. What are they likely to do that would cause problems?
20. What is the likely probability and impact of each risk?
21. What should we do to reduce the probability andor impact?
22. What contingency arrangements do we need?
23. Whats the plan?
15
3
Joinedup governmentcrosscutting issues
3.10 The need to achieve cross-cutting outcomes presents a major challenge to
policy-makers. Actions of one Northern Ireland department can have a major impact on others. Policy-makers from related policy areas in different
departments should keep each other informed and consulted, both formally and informally, about developments of common interest from an early stage, in order
to help promote joined-up outcomes for the citizen. Policy-making must be built around shared goals, not around organisational structures or existing functions.
This is most likely to be achieved, as recommended in the Review of the NI Civil Service Response to Devolution, by a project approach to promoting joined up
policy-making and implementation, with the following characteristics: •
involve key departments; •
specific terms of reference linked to outcomes; •
responsible for the development of policy and implementation; •
rigorous implementation dates and a fixed shelf life; •
senior responsible owner; •
project planning, monitoring and control methods; •
ring fenced funding where possible; •
clearly identified responsibilities for all staff involved; •
only meeting as a group when absolutely necessary and using alternative communication methods; and
• regular review of performance.
3.11 But joining up is not just about shared approaches to cross-cutting issues.
