ABSTRACT
In the case of bureaucratic control, work tasks and procedures are formalised, made predictable and standardised. Formal policies are one way of achieving this formalisation. However, the creation of policies can also serve some more developmental functions. Policies may contain procedures, but tend to have a wider scope and may be less prescriptive than procedures. Policies must be clear enough to give guidance that can be interpreted unambiguously. It can take several attempts to get this right: the process of consultation will help with this. Policies which do not have the assent of those who will be affected by them will be difficult to operate. Policies generally require some kind of monitoring and periodically require review and modification as circumstances change and experience suggests improvements. The hapter describes good practice in writing policies, consulting on them, their ratification by responsible authorities and the eventual audit of compliance.
