Developing a policy generally involves a few aspects – research, analysis, and consultation.

Policies provide direction so that when a query arises about how to implement a decision, there is framework in place to develop a response.

Policy guidelines express how a business’s overall operation and goals are to be pursued.

Policies are a businesses proclaimed viewpoint on a particular issue. They provide a written manual for a businesses operations. Procedures are the apparatus for implementing policies. They outline the ‘how to’ instructions for implementing an area of policy.

Employee’s skills and knowledge about doing their jobs are embedded in their policies, structures and procedures.

Polices protect a business and its staff by emphasising issues or principles and outlining the businesses response. Policies should be kept up-to-date and relevant. They benefit the business by providing ethical guidelines for everyone involved with the business and boundaries for everyday operations.

Policy development is vital to a businesses ability to achieve its objectives. They increase consistency and save on time and effort. They also ensure a trialled and tested approach to what has been identified as best practice and enable unexperienced or temporary staff to learn quickly and become more efficient.

Policies should be developed in anticipation of or in response to demand. A business must constantly assess its enterprises, responsibilities and environment to identify the need for policies.