3. What are the options for achieving the goal?

1. What are promising points of departure for policy given the above problem and cause analysis, goals tree and behavioural analysis and other sources of information, such as evaluations of previous policy? 
2. What are promising policy options for the points of departure? 
3. What is the policy theory per promising policy option?

Secondary questions based on the behavioural perspective (behavioural analysis)

To answer these questions, contact a behavioural expert at your ministry.

1. How is the policy option going to encourage desirable behaviour? (Per promising policy option, detailing the policy theory). Also use the answer to this question to refine your policy options as necessary.

Involve those around you check questions

• Have you involved the stakeholders in the compilation of the policy options?

During this phase you will analyse potential solutions together with the relevant stakeholders and other relevant actors. When doing so always include the zero option and also reflect on whether scrapping existing policy may contribute to achieving the goal. The zero option implies that you maintain existing policy without any changes. Although this is generally not the intention, the new policy may nevertheless lead to more negative effects and fewer positive effects than the zero option.

We define a policy option as a complete approach to achieve the set goals. That may take the form of a single policy instrument, such as the providing a grant, but often it is a combination of instruments such as a grant plus a publicity campaign.

In order to encourage the target behaviour referred to in step 2, it is important that the selected policy instrument links up with the factors which determine behaviour. Determine, together with the stakeholders and relevant actors, which policy options are promising by studying them from the perspectives of lawfulness, effectiveness, efficiency and feasibility (you can find more information on this below). You also need to decide which preconditions should be discussed in order to turn the chosen policy option into a success. These insights will help you make a better estimate in question 4 of the impacts all these options can have on people, society and the environment. The lawfulness, effectiveness, efficiency and feasibility perspectives also feature in question 4. Looking broadly at the possible impacts when answering question 4 will also give you new insights in relation to those perspectives. If, for example, there are unintended negative health effects, that will also have impacts for your lawfulness, effectiveness and efficiency.

After you have formulated various policy options, it is important for each policy option to identify how the selected instrument contributes to the goal. You do this by drawing up a policy theory, which is the entirety of assumptions on which your policy is based. The policy theory includes a description of the policy, the goals of this policy and the resources and activities to achieve these goals, including their mutual relationship. The core of the policy theory is usually presented in the form of a flowchart in which the relationships between resources (inputs), activities (throughputs), achievements (outputs) and the intended impact (outcomes) are displayed visually in the form of a goals tree.

When drafting your policy theories, you should also involve the stakeholders and other relevant actors so that incorrect assumptions about, for example, implementation, can be identified at an early stage. Be alert, in any event, to the following aspects:

Because you want to tackle a social issue or problem and want to achieve goals for improvement. Formulating the problem and goals will not change anything. Interventions are required which connect with the problem and cause analysis and will help to achieve the goals. 

In practice it may already have been decided that a specific instrument must be used. However, you should always check whether other instruments are possible and whether the use of the prescribed instrument actually represents a solution for the problem that you have established and whether its use is justified. Your role is basically to advise as completely and thoroughly as possible. In doing so you collect arguments for the necessary official dissent and you can also prepare for the questions which others will undoubtedly ask, if you continue with the previously established potential solution.

The policy theory includes a description of the policy, the goals of this policy and the resources and activities to achieve these goals, including their mutual relationship. The core of the policy theory is usually presented in the form of a flowchart in which the relationships between resources (inputs), activities (throughputs), achievements (outputs) and the intended impact (outcomes) are displayed visually in the form of a goals tree.

• PPAC guide will help you draw up a goals tree
  PPAC (Project and Programme Management Advisory Centre) PPAC at the central government intranet 'Rijksportaal'

Some of the policy instruments are subject to specific regulations (so-called quality requirements). You can find these in the following table: