A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome(s). The term is not normally used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by the Board of or senior governance body within an organization whereas procedures or protocols would be developed and adopted by senior executive officers. Policies can assist in both subjective and objective decision making. Policies to assist in subjective decision making would usually assist senior management with decisions that must consider the relative merits of a number of factors before making decisions and as a result are often hard to objectively test e.g. work-life balance policy. In contrast policies to assist in objective decision making are usually operational in nature and can be objectively tested e.g. password policy.

Contents

• 1 Impact
  • 1.1 Intended effects
  • 1.2 Unintended effects
• 2 Policy cycle
• 3 Content
• 4 Typologies
  • 4.1 Distributive policies
  • 4.2 Regulatory policies
  • 4.3 Constituent policies
  • 4.4 Miscellaneous policies
• 5 Types
• 6 Other uses of the term
• 7 See also
• 8 References
• 9 External links

Impact

Noun

policy (plural policies)

1. A plan or course of action, especially one of an organization or government
   • The Communist Party has a policy of returning power to the workers
2. A course of action thought to be prudent or tactically advantageous; hence prudence or sagacity
   • Honesty is the best policy
   • Some policy players frequented policy shops
3. A statement of commitment to a broad requirement, often used in an organisation to instruct personnel as to a required outcome (note: whereas "Procedures" describe how a policy is implemented).
4. Shrewdness or artfulness
   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Modern Library Edition (1995), page 140

     These bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you...

Derived terms

• policymaker
• policy shift
• endowment policy
• fiscal policy
• honesty is the best policy
• monetary policy
• policy mix
• to implement a policy

Matching Results for Policy:

The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
"There is nothing improper about American Jews and their Christian allies attempting to sway US policy; the Lobby's activities are not a conspiracy...

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Society: Politics: Liberalism: Left ...
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - A public policy advocacy organization specializing in federal budget issues from a low-income perspective. ...

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Health: Mental Health: Policy and Advocacy ...
Center for the Study of Mental Health Policies and Services - (CSMHPS) ... Office of Science Policy and Program Planning - NIMH - OSPPP provides advice and guidance to the NIMH ...

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Computers: Internet: Policy
Sites relating to aspects of Internet Policy not connected to its nature as a network of ... Policy regarding Standards, Legislation, Regulations, Visions, Dreams ...