Do you need to know policy to know how to implement policy?

When a law passes, everybody talks about it. But what’s missing from the chatter (and often from the legislation itself) is the how of the matter. How does government implement a policy once it’s passed??

That’s the big question.

Who Implements Policy?

Implementation is the real work of the executive branch of our government. It’s the making-it-happen part of government work that allows the public to benefit from laws that are passed in their interest.?

If the public can’t interact with a policy through programs and effective systems run by agencies, then then they have little, if any, way of profiting from the law that legislators worked so hard to pass.

And that situation isn’t good for any of us.

What Happens When You Implement Policy Well?

We love to do policy implementation work because it helps agencies improve existing systems and launch good ones. Ultimately, that makes government work better for us all.?

Good implementation has a concrete, positive effect on the lives of everyday people.?

We’re talking about creating more humane systems for foster children and youth, making government call centers more efficient so people get what they need more quickly, and implementing safer law enforcement practices. The stuff of real life.

Good implementation is vital. If programs or systems are rolled out haphazardly, it can do a lot of damage to people in the real world. But if they’re done right, it increases connections, health, access, and civic engagement.

We Know How To Implement Policy

It’s a misnomer that a consulting firm needs to know policy inside and out in order to help an agency implement a new one.?

Good implementation depends, instead, on excellent change management.?

We are elite change management professionals who have loads of experience with policy implementation. As outsiders, we actually have a clear-eyed vision of what it will look like to implement a policy well. We know you have to treat policy implementation like any other big change.?

Because we aren’t always subject matter experts, we know what questions to ask for the sake of the integrity of the whole project and in order to help you clarify your goals — without getting stuck in the weeds.

We understand that the stakes are high and that timelines are often short, requiring a policy implementation plan that we can help you launch immediately.

Our policy implementation plans cover everything from granular communications structures to reporting plans. Here are just a few things they include:

Structures that encourage high engagement. We engage early and often with the people who are most impacted to ease the disruption or discomfort caused by the change.? A grassroots approach, with engagement woven through the entire process, ensures that the people who most need input get to speak directly to the team early and often. We incorporate feedback as we go.

A detailed OCM plan. A change management plan outlines every impacted role: how best to address their needs and how to win them over using resistance management strategies. Usually we specify the need for one or more influential “champions” who can demonstrate buy-in and excitement.?

Decomposition. Like good technology implementation, good policy implementation is made up of a discrete set of elements, such as targeted communications; an organized feedback cycle; new systems creation; clear-eyed, experienced guidance; and detailed reporting.?

Good implementation is, in many ways, a mechanical system made up of proven components that help a team get from point A to point Z by breaking every part of a project down into parts and building a series of systems that make it possible for the team to move forward efficiently.

Interpretation process. Bills sometimes use vague language that can be difficult to understand and apply. We include a process for clarifying such language. We investigate to make sure an agency has the best information available on which to act. We also interpret and brainstorm based on our familiarity with legislative language. But we don’t just clarify language and meaning to help our clients get the work done; we make connections based on a wider, top-down view to ensure the work is sustainable for impacted stakeholders.??

Legislative communications. We create a reliable system for communicating with bill sponsors and other members of the legislature who were part of the creation of a particular policy. This requires familiarity with the legislature and the ways that legislators think; it’s a distinct skill that’s separate from our ability to communicate with the public and with leaders.

When Should You Start To Implement A Policy?

The sooner you get a change management firm on board, the sooner we can help.?

When you become aware that a particular bill that will affect your agency might become law, it’s time to start thinking about who will help you implement it if it passes.?

Firms like ours can work up an implementation plan quickly and get your team working so you can meet the deadline and fulfill your commitment to the public.?