Thinking systematically about policy

This article proposes a systems description of policy and the process of generating and implementing it, with the goal of aiding policy planners, implementers, and contributors in enhancing policy effectiveness. The idealized policy process described provides a framework for a comprehensive approach to real policy administration. Understanding the idealized policy process offers the three groups of policy contributors, those who create it, those who carry it out, and those who support it, the opportunity to use their knowledge more effectively to the benefit of policy development. This will increase not only the quality of policies but also the enjoyment and rewards of those contributing to them.