What is the profession of putting the policies of the government into practical application?

Making policy has traditionally been seen as Whitehall’s main function. Yet, despite over a decade of sustained efforts to improve policy making, civil servants, politicians and academics continue to express concerns about the way policy is made, and whether it is ready to meet future challenges. These concerns need to be taken seriously. The strength of policy making is integral to the strength of government as a whole, and that of the country at large. When policies fail, the costs (whether monetary or otherwise) can be significant. There would be a compelling case for studying policy making even if Whitehall could look forward to a period of stability. Clearly, this is not the case. Departmental administration budgets are being cut by an average of 33% over four years, and the Prime Minister has promised "a total change in the way our country is run". 1 The Institute’s approach In the face of these challenges, policy making will need to change - both in its function and its organisation. The Institute’s Better Policy Making theme aims to show how this can be done.