How do you write a strategy?

What’s the issue?

Strategies are one tool that governments use to achieve long-term goals – and if you’re a policy professional, you’ll probably work on one sooner or later. The problem is strategies differ a lot. There’s no singular way to write a strategy, and no guidance to draw on. It can be hard to know where to start.

Why does it matter?

Strategies are important because they set a high-level, long-term direction. Governments are charged with preparing for the future – especially in areas like infrastructure and climate change – but they tend to think in short-term electoral cycles because they’re worried how they’ll fare at the polls. Strategies can help because they set a direction most people will agree with, so are likely to survive a change of government. Different governments can choose different actions to achieve the goals of any strategy.

What’s the solution?

If you’re tasked with writing a strategy, your first stop should be looking at other strategies. Select a range, from both New Zealand and overseas. Then ask yourself some key questions. How were the goals in the strategy decided on? Who does this strategy put responsibilities onto – just the government, or sectors outside the government? What levers does government have to achieve the goals in the strategy? What’s the timeframe for the strategy, and does it seem right for the kinds of issues the strategy is addressing? How will progress on the strategy be measured?

If you can see how other strategies answer these questions, you’re in a good position to start your own strategic thinking.