Basics of policy advising

Introduction & Content

The basic module policy advising provides insight into the steps required to develop concrete actions or plans when dealing with complex issues within your organization. 

Using a case from your own professional practice, you will analyze a problem, formulate well-founded solutions, and translate it into a concrete policy recommendation and actions.

The target group for this module are individuals or teams working in the broader public and/or social sector who are looking for a practical, step-by-step approach to addressing complex challenges. 

By the end of this module, you will understand the various stages of the policy-making cycle and be able to present a clear and convincing policy recommendation at management or executive level

Seven sessions 

This module consists out of 7 x 3.5h sessions in which you will work through the policy-making cycle and apply it to your own case. In the final session you will present your professional product.

Course outline:

Session 1: introduction & defining the core question
Formulating the correct policy question based on your case.

Session 2: Who are the stakeholders? Analysis of your stakeholders and driving forces
Identifying the most relevant actors and selecting an appropriate engagement strategy. 

Session 3: What is the policy problem? Causes & Symptoms
Defining the problems and their underlying causes to draft a clear and coherent analysis. 

Session 4: What is the policy objective? Setting goals and designing your objectives tree
Translating the problem into SMART formulated objectives and goals using the objectives tree model. 

Session 5: What are the options? policy instruments & the underlying policy theory
selecting and weighing different policy options and instruments to the problem, substantiated by policy-making theories. 

Session 6: What is the preferred option? impact, monitoring & evaluation
Mapping (unintended) consequences, selecting and justifying a preferred option, and defining KPIs for monitoring and evaluation. 

Session 7: How do you present your advice?
professionalizing your policy recommendation by providing a clear structure to your written output and presenting it clearly and convincingly at management/executive level.  

Instructor:

Marcel Daniels

Study load:

140 hours (32 contact hours and 108 hours of self-study)

Assessment:
Assessment consists out of a portfolio with three components:

• Individual assignment (professional deliverable)
• Open-book Exam
• Individual assessment