Policy toolkit: alpha

Effective policy development does not end with its implementation. Ensuring that an instrument remains current, fit for purpose and aligned with its original intent requires ongoing maintenance and evaluation.  

As the social, economic and technological landscapes evolve, our instruments must adapt to remain relevant and effective. Without regular evaluation, an instrument can become outdated, fail to address emerging challenges, or drift from its intended goals. Regular review or evaluation is essential to measure performance, identify areas for improvement and ensure that the instrument continues to deliver value.

By embedding regular evaluation into the lifecycle, we can ensure that the instruments created are not only maintained but continuously improved to meet the evolving needs of government, industry, and the public.

Review and evaluate

There are multiple ways you can conduct a review or evaluation. You can approach it similar to the alpha and beta phases, conducting usability testing and engaging with stakeholders. You can also follow guidance from the Commonwealth Evaluation Policy.

The Commonwealth Evaluation Policy and associated Commonwealth Evaluation Toolkit provide a best-practice framework for conducting evaluations. The policy aims to embed a culture of evaluation and learning from experience to underpin evidence based policy and delivery. It applies to all Commonwealth entities and companies subject to the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (PGPA) Act 2013. The toolkit provides an overview of evaluation concepts and approaches. It also provides guidance on how to conduct different kinds of evaluations, both formal and informal. Many of the tools in the toolkit can also be used to evaluate other instruments in addition to policies.  

Develop a plan to monitor  

You should develop a plan to monitor and review your solution regularly.

Conduct a policy impact assessment

A policy impact assessment will help you understand and analyse the solution’s performance.

Resources

• Commonwealth Policy Evaluation Process (Department of Treasury 2023)