The Policy Game : Playing to Win?

1. The Policy Game: Playing to Win? Ken Thibodeau SAA/CoSA/NAGARA 2010

2. Perspective: Policy as Direction Authority Policy Conformance

3. Observations on Records Management • “Records management has received low priority within the federal government. Prior reports have identified persistent weaknesses in federal records management, including a lack of policies and training.... almost 80 percent of agencies were at moderate to high risk of improper disposition of records.” • 2010 • “Persistent records management shortcomings have been attributed to many causes, including poor promotion of records management program improvements, lack of commitment by top management, emphasis on agency missions, and the low priority of records management. • 1981 • “Oversight of records management has not been effective, and records management historically has been afforded limited resources and inadequate management attention.” • 1981

4. Historical Perspective • “Agency records management weaknesses have existed at least since the Federal Records Act gave NARS oversight responsibilities 30 years ago. NARS' ineffectiveness and poor image raise questions as to how successful its currently proposed changes will be.” • Government Accountability Office. FEDERAL RECORDS MANAGEMENT: A HISTORY OF NEGLECT. February 24, 1981.

5. Perspective: Policy as Mediating between Goals and Reality Authority/ Responsibility achieve Goals Policy Effects

6. Perspective: Policy as Mediating between Goals and Reality Authority/ Responsibility achieve Goals Goals Policy Effects Effects Fact Finding

7. Perspective: Policy as Mediating between Goals and Reality Authority/ Responsibility Goals Goals Policy Policy Policy Effects Effects Fact Finding Collaboration

8. Achieving Goals: Positioning Verified & measured outcomes Authority/ Responsibility Goals Policy Effects Policy should stipulate verifiable and measurable outcomes

9. Achieving Goals: Alignment Verified & measured outcomes Authority/ Responsibility Goals Goals Policy Effects Policy Effects Align goals with interests of other influential players

10. Policy: You Can’t Win Without Collaborators