Policy Masterclass
|
Date: 6th - 7th October 2025 |
This two-day Policy Masterclass is meticulously designed to equip experienced senior civil servants with a strategic understanding of policy development, from conception through implementation. By integrating insights on global trends, pitfalls avoidance, and the intersection of policy and project management, this course goes beyond traditional policy courses to examine how policy works in practice and how success can be achieved from an operational and strategic basis. Participants will engage in a holistic exploration of delivery mechanisms and futures thinking, enhancing their ability to shape resilient and effective policies.
Through interactive sessions, case studies, and expert-led discussions, attendees will gain the skills to navigate and influence the complex policy landscape effectively, ensuring their contributions drive meaningful and sustainable impact in the public sector.
Learning Outcomes:
This event is for experienced policy makers or those looking to build on existing knowledge of the policy making process. Participants will explore:
- Explore global trends shaping the policy landscape and their strategic implications for senior decision-makers.
- Examine common pitfalls in policy formulation and advanced strategies for their mitigation.
- Delve into the critical interplay between policy frameworks and project management excellence.
- Assess the impact of open government principles on sophisticated policy development processes.
- Apply rigorous selection criteria in policy development to drive effective and sustainable outcomes.
- Evaluate the influence of delivery chains on policy success, drawing on best practices and case studies.
- Investigate the role of futures thinking in strategic policy planning and its importance for forward-looking governance.
Agenda
Day One
| Time | Day One: Strategic Policy Foundations and Applications |
|---|---|
| 09.30 | Welcome and Introductions: Setting the stage for strategic engagement. |
| 09.45 | Principles of Strategic Policy Making: Refreshing key concepts and exploring policy options and public sector challenges. |
| 11.15 | Morning Break |
| 11.30 | Strategic Policy Pitfalls: Analyzing where and why the strategic policy process can falter, including government blunders and cognitive biases. |
| 12.30 | Lunch |
| 13.30 | Applying Project Management Discipline: Emphasizing the role of Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) and project management maturity in policy success. |
| 14.30 | Afternoon Break |
| 14.45 | Open Policy Making and Innovation: Encouraging consultative, innovative approaches and divergent thinking in policy formulation. |
| 15.30 | Afternoon Break |
| 15.45 | Option Appraisal: Employing the Chilcott checklist for selecting the optimum policy options. |
| 16.30 | Close |
Day Two
| Time | Day Two: Implementation, Evaluation, and Global Trends |
|---|---|
| 09.30 | Welcome and Recap: Reviewing Day One insights. |
| 09.45 | Delivery Chains and Implementation: Best practices for identifying implementers and establishing effective delivery chains. |
| 10.45 | Morning Break |
| 11.00 | Evaluation: Techniques for policy modelling, in-programme monitoring, and comprehensive evaluation. |
| 12.00 | Futures Thinking: Introducing futures thinking and its linkage to the policy cycle. |
| 13.00 | Lunch |
| 13.45 | Global Trends Briefing: Insights into public sector and regulatory reform, including lessons from COVID-19 responses. |
| 14.45 | Afternoon Break |
| 15.00 | Surgery: An interactive session to build your toolkit and address delegates' questions. |
| 16.00 | Evaluation and Close: Reflecting on the masterclass and its applications. |