The Policy Game: Playing to Win?Ken Thibodeau

SAA/CoSA/NAGARA 2010

Perspective: Policy as Direction

Authority

Policy

Conformance

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

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.

Authority/ Responsibility

Perspective: Policy as Mediating between Goals and Reality

Goals Policy Effects

achieve

Effects

Authority/ Responsibility

Perspective: Policy as Mediating between Goals and Reality

Goals Policy Effects

achieve

Fact Finding

Goals

EffectsPolicyPolicyGoals

Authority/ Responsibility

Perspective: Policy as Mediating between Goals and Reality

Goals Effects

Fact FindingCollaboration

Policy

Authority/ Responsibility

Achieving Goals: Positioning

Effects

Verified & measured outcomes

Goals Policy

Policy should stipulate verifiable and measurable

outcomes

Authority/ Responsibility

Achieving Goals: Alignment

Effects

Verified & measured outcomes

Goals PolicyGoals Policy Effects

Policy: You Can’t Win Without Collaborators