The paper presents a unique means of representing and modelling policy implementation complexity, which offers government the ability to develop policy in a risk free context. Such a quantified technique can be delivered quickly to provide informed solutions, much more flexibly than conventional modelling techniques. Substantial added value would come from its ability to: (1) Provide a better understanding of the complexity in a risk free environment; (2) Model the causal relationships between entities and the relative advantages and disadvantages of policy options; (3) Provide the basis for forecasting the future; (4) Enable rapid piloting to test the consequences of a wide range of implementation, political and environmental scenarios; and (5) Incorporate feedback of early results during implementation to strengthen the model and refine the implementation strategy. Most importantly, it would minimise the potential for taking an inappropriate approach to capital intensive initiatives which if implemented the 'wrong way' could lead to specific policies being discredited at great cost to the public purse. (A*)
Abstract