Clear Commissioning and Project Planning

Effective policy analysis starts with clear commissioning. If we do not understand what exactly we have to produce, why we are doing it, who it is for, and when it is due, it will be difficult to develop a project plan to deliver timely analysis that is fit for purpose. Three mindsets to bring to the task are: listening and reading come before talking and writing; it is better to ask than to assume; and time is money, so identify how to achieve maximal impact from minimal investment of time and resources. The chapter provides tools and techniques for clear commissioning: ways to claim permission to ask questions; commissioning checklists for policy analysts and their managers; and the technique of “working backwards” to develop a project plan.