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It’s Policy, Stupid. Ken Guy Wise Guys Ltd. FP6 Priorities 7 and 8 First Call Kick-off Meeting Centre Borschette Brussels 11-12 November 2004. Introduction. Personal involvement in two policy review exercises TSER IHP
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It’s Policy, Stupid • Ken Guy • Wise Guys Ltd. • FP6 Priorities 7 and 8 • First Call Kick-off Meeting • Centre Borschette • Brussels • 11-12 November 2004 www.wiseguys.ltd.uk
Introduction • Personal involvement in two policy review exercises • TSER • IHP • Current importance attached to the relationship between socio-economic research and policy formulation • Search for ways of enhancing the impact of research on policy www.wiseguys.ltd.uk
Report Structures • Lessons from an expert • The deficiencies of TSER reports • A function of the way Framework projects are conceived and implemented? • Or of the status of final reports and the kudos associated with them? • The net result was that many reports were not coherent, lacked a synthetic edge and consequently punched below their weight www.wiseguys.ltd.uk
Impact • Poorly crafted reports complicate the lives of policy reviewers! • But also devalue the effort put into the research • Dissemination of important project results can occur via many other routes, e.g. publications in academic journals • But often these fail to land on policymakers’ desks • Whereas project reports, executive summaries (and even policy reviews) do www.wiseguys.ltd.uk
Improving Structures and Impacts • Think dissemination from the start and build this into the project plan • Identify target audiences • Consider best ways of connecting with these in terms of processes, outputs and timing • Make sure there is time and space in the project plan for synthesis and integration as well as for research and dissemination • By all means approach the task of synthesis collectively, but let one hand hold the pen for longer than the others www.wiseguys.ltd.uk
Policy Issues Policy Issues Policy Issues Research Themes Research Themes Research Themes Improving Structures and Impacts • When contemplating research plans, report structures and the synthesis of project results, think in terms of a ‘research themes’ and ‘policy issues’ matrix www.wiseguys.ltd.uk
Improving Structures and Impacts • When writing Executive Summaries, think in terms of simple structures • Introduction (aim, scope and methodology) • Context (main research themes and relevant policy issues) • Research Results (key achievements and main scientific findings) • Policy Implications (including recommendations) • Future Research Needs www.wiseguys.ltd.uk
Improving Structures and Impacts • Write Executive Summaries for the intelligent layperson • Take advice on how to influence policymakers and be tolerant of criticism when it is offered in a constructive spirit • Remember that greater impact is in everybody’s interest in a world in which policymaking is increasingly evidence-based • i.e. “It’s Policy, Stupid” www.wiseguys.ltd.uk