[Policy workshop template]

Creating the conditions for better policy making through the use of evidence

Sharing, reflecting and learning from experience

[insert date]

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Context

In the context of Civil Service Reform, GO-Science is currently conducting a review of the science and engineering profession in government.

In our scoping work we encountered the following issues:

•Supply - our people, their skills, expertise and careers

•Demand - future Civil Service needs

•Interface with other professions and opportunities for cross-profession learning

We are pleased that colleagues from several professions are willing to work with us on this latter issue. So today we invite you to help us understand how to create the conditions for better policy through the use of evidence

Session Plan

Designed around three questions

Where are we now? How your organisation uses evidence to inform decision making

(Systems, approaches, skills)

• Where do we need to be? Articulate some insights and critical analysis

(Current gaps or challenges?

How are we going to get there? Identify some improvement and development actions

(individuals, team, department)

Session Structure

Total = 1 Hour 30 minutes

Part 1 – Introductory sequence 15 mins

Part 2 – Group interaction (x2) 60 mins

Part 3 - Stating issues to take forward 15 mins

Part 1

Introductory sequence

Brief personal introductions and short statement of experience and / or perspective

Learning principles and ground rules

• Sharing personal experience is always powerful as a basis to learn from in a group

• Building on each other contributions and challenging respectfully keeps the conversation open and flowing

• The Chatham House Rule allows that each person is free to use information arising from this session but ‘neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed".

• We will (with permission) be recording conversations and may use anonymous quotes

Once the facts are clear

Naïve view of evidence into policy

The action is obvious

‘Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root

out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning

animals upon Facts.. nothing else will ever be of any service to them.. Stick to Facts, sir!’

Stick to the facts ..

Thomas Gradgrind, the schoolmaster in Hard Times by Charles Dickens

‘…we need enough good science so we have the capacity to tackle a new problem, to react effectively

to scientific breakthroughs however or wherever they may

arise, and to capitalise on those breakthroughs via research programmes and business

initiatives of our own.’

A more enabling Perspective ..

David Willetts, Science Minister

Science, Innovation and the Economy, Royal Institution, London 2010

Part 2

Group Conversation

Where are we now?

In groups look at the postcards on your table. They consist of quotes taken from recent discussions with senior policy officials.

Spend a few minutes discussing these with people at your table.

Look at the ‘ways of working’ blank chart and write on post-it notes :

•What is working well? Yellow post-its•What are the challenges? Red post-its

We will discuss the responses in plenary and build on them

First InteractionApprox 30 mins

Views on handling evidence

• Effectiveness of integrated and multidisciplinary teams• Interdisciplinary thinking is a challenge in itself• Leading or convening and interdisciplinary exercise is a distinct skillset• ‘Evidence’ comes in many forms, and from many sources• Risk communication is an important topic, with particular skills• Policy makers work in an environment with strong ‘here and now’ pressures• Challenging an existing research programme for evidence can be difficult• Judging the moment when you have enough evidence• Getting better at sharing science with industry• Handling ‘counter-evidential’ political decisions• Undervalued value of the generalist mentality

[Stimulus material - Summary of key themes arising from recent discussions with senior policy colleagues, shared with participants on postcards]

Ways of working Knowledge & skillsS

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In my experience..

It seems to me.. From my perspective....

I think we need to..

Where do we need to be, and how?

‘…..too often policy advice draws from too narrow a range of views and evidence……Open policy making will become the default.’

Civil Service Reform Plan

Second interaction Approx 30 Mins

Discuss what you think are the implications for the way evidence or expertise is used in your organisation?

Elect a rapporteur and provide a short report-back.

The handout on of open policy making (taken from the Civil Service Reform Plan). You may want to focus on the following issues in your discussion

•Cross-boundary teams•Transparency•Real-world testing•Iteration

Civil Service Reform Plan

Civil Service Reform Plan 2012

Part 3

Issues to take forward

Plenary Conversation15 mins

•What important points have arisen?

•What would you would like to explore further?

•What would a relevant learning agenda look like?

•What useful actions could be started soon?

• The four capability themes may be useful on the next slide

Ways of working Knowledge & skillsS

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Evidence in the policy cycle Evidence stewardship

Visibility, availability,flexibility, pace

Communication with relevance and impact

Example of output themes

Contact:

Adrian Robertsonadrian.robertson@bis.gsi.gov.uk0207 215 6588

Team email: GSE@bis.gov.uk

GO Science: http://www.bis.gov.uk/go-science

Linked-in Group: Government Science & Engineering

Find out more