1. Policy Analysis A forum moderated by Joseph Stenard

2. What is “Policy” Rules Rules Laws Laws Guidelines Guidelines Codes Codes Procedures Procedures Parameters Parameters 1. A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters: American foreign policy; the company's personnel policy. 1. A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters: American foreign policy; the company's personnel policy. 2.a. A course of action, guiding principle, or procedure considered expedient, prudent, or advantageous: Honesty is the best policy. 2.a. A course of action, guiding principle, or procedure considered expedient, prudent, or advantageous: Honesty is the best policy. b. Prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity in practical matters. b. Prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity in practical matters.

3. Policy in our lives US Foreign Policy e.g. Monroe Doctrine US Foreign Policy e.g. Monroe Doctrine HVCC Academic Integrity (Plagiarism) HVCC Academic Integrity (Plagiarism) Home Owners’ Association Home Owners’ Association Noise Ordinances Noise Ordinances Dessert only after finishing your good dinner Dessert only after finishing your good dinner Waiting to swim after eating Waiting to swim after eating Compensation or Vacation policies (HR) Compensation or Vacation policies (HR)

4. Effect of policy Intentional Effects Intentional Effects Alters Marginal Behavior Alters Marginal Behavior Rewards and punishments align behavior with the objectives of the policymaker Rewards and punishments align behavior with the objectives of the policymaker Unintended Consequences Unintended Consequences Opportunistic Behavior Opportunistic Behavior “Working the System” “Working the System”

5. Evaluating Policy What is the intended benefit of the policy? What is the intended benefit of the policy? Is it known and understood by those who are expected to comply? Is it known and understood by those who are expected to comply? Will it cause unintended consequences? Will it cause unintended consequences? Does it comply with laws of nature, specifically, economic principles? Does it comply with laws of nature, specifically, economic principles?

6. Example: Holiday Humane Society The Administrator of the local animal shelter sends an e-mail to everyone on her list announcing that volunteers are required to come in costume to an event tomorrow. What is the intended benefit of the policy? What is the intended benefit of the policy? Is it known and understood by those who are expected to comply? Is it known and understood by those who are expected to comply? Will it cause unintended consequences? Will it cause unintended consequences? Does it comply with laws of nature, specifically, economic principles? Does it comply with laws of nature, specifically, economic principles?

7. Example: IRS Audit Policy The Internal Revenue Service audit procedures include certain features: A computer algorithm scans all returns for “Red Flags” like using your home as an office or listing your occupation as “Lawyer” A computer algorithm scans all returns for “Red Flags” like using your home as an office or listing your occupation as “Lawyer” Those with higher earnings are more likely to be audited Those with higher earnings are more likely to be audited Less than 1 in 1,000,000 tax returns receive a “Hollywood Audit” each year Less than 1 in 1,000,000 tax returns receive a “Hollywood Audit” each year

8. Humans vs Zombies

9. Humans VS Zombies Humans vs. Zombies is a game of tag. All players begin as humans, and one is randomly chosen to be the “Original Zombie.” The Original Zombie tags human players and turns them into zombies. The zombies must tag and “feed” on a human every 48 hours or he starves to death and is out of the game. http://humansvszombies.org

10. HvZ OBJECTIVES Zombies win when all human players have been tagged and turned into zombies. Zombies win when all human players have been tagged and turned into zombies. Humans win by surviving long enough for all of the zombies to starve. Humans win by surviving long enough for all of the zombies to starve. As in all games, the objective is to have a good time and make memories together

11. Protecting the Players, Non-Combatants and the longevity of the game Often played on college campuses and developed by student entrepreneurs, there are policies instituted to insure the success of the game Often played on college campuses and developed by student entrepreneurs, there are policies instituted to insure the success of the game Consider by-standers and all involved Consider by-standers and all involved Consider owners of the land Consider owners of the land Accounting for externalities Accounting for externalities

12. Procedures The student organizers set up a web site, establish dates, times and places, then publicize and invite The student organizers set up a web site, establish dates, times and places, then publicize and invite Everyone who wants to play registers on the website and receives a unique ID # Everyone who wants to play registers on the website and receives a unique ID # The game begins when one person is chosen at random to be the First Zombie The game begins when one person is chosen at random to be the First Zombie http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2009/04/28/beware_this_game_is_infectious/ http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2009/04/28/beware_this_game_is_infectious/ http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2009/04/28/beware_this_game_is_infectious/

13. Good or Bad policy? Everyone carries an index card with their HvZ ID# on it at all times Everyone carries an index card with their HvZ ID# on it at all times If you eat a human you have to register the meal within 3 hours on the website If you eat a human you have to register the meal within 3 hours on the website When stunned, the zombie cannot interact with the game for 15 minutes When stunned, the zombie cannot interact with the game for 15 minutes Zombies die if they go 48 hours without eating Zombies die if they go 48 hours without eating

14. Would this be a good idea? What if every time a zombie died, a minute was added to their freeze time (with a maximum time), and every time he "ate" someone a minute was subtracted (with a minimum time)? What if every time a zombie died, a minute was added to their freeze time (with a maximum time), and every time he "ate" someone a minute was subtracted (with a minimum time)? If you run out of nerf ammo or socks, you may use any available projectile to stun a Zombie If you run out of nerf ammo or socks, you may use any available projectile to stun a Zombie

15. Policy Alternatives Should Policies be changed to fit the organization objectives? Should Policies be changed to fit the organization objectives? CCHS Rule Set This is a great rule set for an afternoon game. This is accompanied with their software. The starve time starts at 15 minutes, and each kill/ feed adds an additional 5 minutes. CCHS Rule Set This is a great rule set for an afternoon game. This is accompanied with their software. The starve time starts at 15 minutes, and each kill/ feed adds an additional 5 minutes. CCHS Rule Set CCHS Rule Set

16. Thank You