Strategic policy fundamentals series

This series includes the following courses:

Systems thinking and behavioural insights for strategic policy development
Implementation science for strategic policy development
Designing and implementing strategic policy is challenging. Government approaches often change direction, public policy development is highly contestable, policy problems are complex and multi-faceted, requiring linkages across numerous portfolios or layers of governance, and there is a growing emphasis on involving stakeholders and citizens in public policy design.

Contemporary public policy makers need to be well informed, responsive, collaborative and innovative to deliver effective, evidence-based policy. This requires a strategic approach to policy design, development and implementation.

The series is designed to equip current and aspiring public policy makers with a range of tools essential for strategic policy design, development and implementation.

This course will run as an online and distance program in 2024. It is scheduled to run for four weeks, 14 March - 11 April 2024, with a course orientation / meet and greet on Thursday 14 March. Dates for the live sessions to note in your diary are below.

Note: Dates and times are in Canberra time AEDT/GMT+11 until 6 April 2024, then AEST/GMT+10 after that. The calendar invite for each session should automatically adjust to your timezone when you add it to your calendar. You can check at a site like this to be sure.

Improve strategic policy development and design through systems thinking and behavioural insights.

This course will provide participants with a framework to develop their strategic policy skills. Participants will work through the systems thinking and behavioural insights aspects of the strategic policy development framework elements in detail, engaging in techniques that will help to build a practical approach to strategic policy development and design.

Improve strategic policy design through a greater understanding of implementation science.

This course will provide participants with a framework to develop their strategic policy skills. Participants will work through the implementation aspects of the strategic policy development framework in detail, engaging in techniques that will help to build a practical approach to strategic policy co-design and implementation.

The series will include both theoretical components, case studies and practical activities to facilitate learning, considering the latest information and evidence relevant to each topic. Participants will be required to work in small groups on a real-world policy problem. Activities undertaken are likely to include application of policy co-design techniques, development of a theory of change approach and a high-level implementation plan. Participants will also engage in role playing to understand behaviour change and games to explore systems thinking and mental models.

Participants will be provided with a workbook that will contain some of the theoretical elements discussed and materials to support the practical exercises.

Topics to be covered:

• Introduction to the strategic policy framework
• Systems thinking and modelling - theories of systems thinking; assumptions and unintended consequences; problem exploration and definition; stakeholder analysis and engagement; identification of policy problem leverage points
• Behavioural insights and behaviour change - behavioural influences and drivers of change; understanding common biases and mental models; nudge theory and models of behaviour change; defining and identifying behaviours for policy design
• A brief introduction to implementation science
• Introduction to the strategic policy framework, including a brief overview of systems thinking and behavioural insights
• Implementation science - designing evidence-based policy; communicating with influence; theory of change and creating evaluation frameworks; engaging end-users in policy design; flexible policy implementation; benefits and pitfalls of pilot projects and scaling up; measuring success and intervention impact

Series learning outcomes:

Public policy development in Australia exists in a highly complex and contested environment. In order for the public sector to be a leader in policy design and development, there needs to be greater understanding of the interdependent structures of public policy systems, of how human behaviour can influence and drive policy change and why we need a greater focus on the nuances of policy implementation.

This course will provide participants with tools to improve their strategic policy thinking, linking and analysis capabilities, to support policy development and delivery in a holistic, collaborative, innovative and focused way. Developing these skills across organisations in the public sector, or through MPA students, will facilitate and enable the delivery of a strategic public policy work agenda.

Learning outcomes include:

• Understanding the need to take a big picture approach to policy design in order to avoid assumptions and unintended consequences and to be disciplined in defining policy problems before jumping to solution design
• The ability to articulate common behaviours and behaviour influences and how to design behaviour change programs to improve policy outcomes
• Experience using systems maps, stakeholder analysis tools and generic behaviour change tools that can be applied in the work place
• Understanding the need to take a big picture approach to policy design in order to avoid assumptions and unintended consequences and to be disciplined in defining policy problems before jumping to solution design
• Experience using co-design and consumer engagement techniques for policy development, Theory of Change and high-level evaluation frameworks and implementation approaches that can be applied in the work place

Anticipated behavioural and business impacts include:

Participants will:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental capabilities required for strategic policy development and the ability to employ practical strategies for developing these capabilities in the work place
• Experience using some of the tools designed to strengthen strategic policy development, particularly the application of systems thinking, behavioural insights and implementation science
• Participate in policy design, development and implementation in a more informed, deliberative, joined-up, innovative and cohesive manner

Who should attend the Series?

This course is aimed at current and aspiring public policy officers/specialists (APS 6-EL1).

This is a real-time, date-specific course, in which you will join live classes, engage and connect with experts, other course participants and the Executive Education team. Here's how it works:

• Pre-course live session. This is an opportunity for you to grab a cuppa and join our meet and greet before the course commences.
• Practice + Study. Set aside up to 2 hours per day - this time commitment will vary depending on how deeply you choose to engage with the material. It is up to you.
• Course pack. Each participant will receive a carefully curated workbook, which includes everything you need to guide you through the course.
• Live sessions with presenter. This is a specified date and time for you to come together with the presenter and other participants to consolidate your learning.
• Post-course. On completion of the course, you will receive your post-course resources for your reference and further learning.
  

• No time off work - study and practice when you can.
• Busy schedule? No problem, you can go at your own pace, join just the live classes, and do the course work whenever suits you best. We know that work and family obligations can be overwhelming. Mix and match the schedule to fit your life.
• No travel. This is a course right at your fingertips. With no travel expenses, this is a very affordable option for high-level training with world-leading experts.
• Live interaction with world-leading experts. You'll have direct access to all the best resources and trainers.
• Working remotely? With the online and distance format, we welcome participants from around the world to join us.

What if I can't make a live session? No problem, we understand you are busy. Live sessions are recorded and transcribed for you to catch up in your own time.

What if I'm in a different time zone? Depending on the time of year, all advertised course times are scheduled in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST/GMT+10) or Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT/GMT+11). Convert for your time zone here.

What if I am not tech savvy? As long as you have access to a phone or computer, you'll have no problems. This is a low-tech course designed for everyone. If needed our team is here to help - contact us at csee@anu.edu.au.

What if I have questions? We would love to hear from you. Contact our team at csee@anu.edu.au.