Policy Design and Problem Solving

Online

Tony Cash

This course can be delivered exclusively for your organisation.
>> Enquire about team training

We can tailor this programme to meet your objectives. Available online, at your offices or at a location that suits you.

Turn Complex Problems into Better Policy Solutions

Overview

Many policies and programmes underperform not because of weak solutions, but because the wrong problem was defined at the outset.

This course helps government and wider public sector professionals improve how they define, analyse and solve complex policy problems. You will learn practical techniques to break down challenges, identify root causes, test assumptions, and develop stronger, more evidence-based policy options.

The focus is on improving policy thinking in practice so solutions are better targeted, more deliverable, and more likely to achieve intended outcomes.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for government and wider public sector professionals working in policy, strategy, analysis, programme delivery, and related roles.

It is suitable for both:

those new to policy design and problem solving
experienced professionals looking to strengthen their analytical and decision-making approach

What you will gain

By attending, you will learn how to:

Define policy problems clearly and avoid common framing errors
Identify and analyse root causes rather than symptoms
Apply structured tools to break down complex policy challenges
Develop and assess evidence-based policy options
Make stronger decisions using clear criteria, risks and trade-offs
Improve the quality and impact of policy design and delivery

Course Timing

Time Zone	Start Time	Finish Time
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)	12:00	16:30
Eastern Time (ET)	08:00	12:30
United Kingdom (UK)	13:00	17:30

Currency & Pricing

Course fees are automatically displayed in your local currency during registration.

Select your country in the registration form
The system detects your region
Prices are converted into your local currency automatically
Exchange rates are updated dynamically at checkout

Need to pay by invoice? Once you have entered your details, you can select Pay by Invoice from the payment options.

Course Agenda

Introduction: how effective policy is designed

Why problem definition determines policy success
What good policy design looks like in practice
Aligning policy thinking with outcomes and decision-making needs

1. Defining the policy problem

Framing problems clearly from the outset
Defining success and desired outcomes
Wicked vs tame problems in public policy
Managing assumptions and expectations in policy design

2. Understanding root causes

Moving beyond symptoms to underlying causes
Competing narratives and stakeholder influence
The “Five Whys” technique
Issue trees and systems thinking approaches

3. Developing policy solutions

Generating policy options using structured techniques
Using evidence, analysis and stakeholder input effectively
Hypothesis-based thinking and structured reasoning

4. Evaluating and selecting options

Establishing clear decision-making criteria
Assessing costs, benefits, risks and feasibility
Recognising and mitigating bias in decision-making
Testing options across different scenarios

5. From analysis to decision

Presenting policy options clearly and effectively
Responding to scrutiny and challenge
Ensuring solutions are practical, deliverable and outcome-focused

Conclusion and discussion

Key takeaways
Applying tools and frameworks in real-world contexts

Close