Policy

A policy is a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual (Oxford Dictionaries). A policy is defined as a relatively stable, purposive course of action followed by an actor or set of actors in dealing with a problem or matter of concern (Anderson, 2003). A policy is a guiding principle used to set direction in an organisation and it can be a course of action to guide and influence decisions. It should be used as a guide to decision making under a given set of circumstances within the framework of objectives, goals and management philosophies as determined by senior management (Anderson, 2005)

Related terms: Policy Analysis, Policy Governance, Policy Informatics, Policy Lifecycle, Policy Model, Policy Modelling, Public Governance, Public Policy

References:

Oxford Dictionaries, Available here

Anderson, J. E. (2003). Public policymaking: An introduction. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 1 – 34

Anderson, C. What's the Difference Between Policies and Procedures?, Bizmanualz, April 4, 2005.