This course will develop the skills neccessary for policy and program professionals as well as managers and subject-matter experts to become successful in their careers in government.  The one-day boot camp consists of the sessions outlined below::

1.  Technical Writing for Analysts (9:00 am -- 10:30 am)

Every time you write about a topic or issue that requires some degree of specialization on your and your readers’ behalf you are writing in a technical style. Whenever you write to brief a senior official, correspond with a stakeholder or develop a report, a unique communications process takes place that requires a different set of writing skills. That process is called technical writing – the delivery of technical information to readers in a manner that is adapted to their needs, level of understanding and background.  

2.  Writing Excellent Briefing Notes (10:45 am -- 12:15 pm)

A briefing note to your Assistant Deputy Minister, Senior Management team, Deputy Minister or Minister can be a career-defining moment. You know your subject but do you know how to communicate it in a way that meets their needs and expectations? Before you write any briefing note, it is critical you understand what constitutes a 'good' note in the minds of senior decision-makers.  

3.  Analytical Thinking (12:45 pm -- 2:15 pm)

Analytical thinking is a core competency for policy analysts, program officers, subject-matter experts and managers.  It involves being able to seek and organize relevant information systematically when exploring circumstances and coming up with rational, well-informed conclusions.   This session focuses on honing participants' ability to think analytically -- how to think about problems and public sector issues in a logical and systematic manner. 

4.  The Policy Maker's Toolkit (2:30 pm -- 4:00 pm)

This session will teach students how to write the key documents governments use to identify issues of public importance.  It will focus on how issues are put onto the public agenda (research plans, research reports, questionnaires and surveys, public consultation plans, discussion papers, etc.) while exploring the range of instruments available to put policies into action and documents used to explain them (decision notes and treasury/management board submissions).  The session will also cover the process by which governments make decisions between competing options.  It will conclude with a strategic analysis of cabinet submissions and cabinet presentations.

* Factors senior officals consider when making decisions
* Best practices
* The four stages of policy development
* Strategic decisions and outcomes
* Identifying issues and formulating strategic
* The steps by which governments identify issues of public importance and explain how to write the documents used to support these steps: environmental scans, stakeholder analyses, media analyses and house notes;
* Data collection and methodology
* Developing evidence-based solutions
* The range of instruments available to governments to put policies into practice and documents used to explain them: decision notes and treasury/management board submissions
* The process by which governments make decisions about competing policy options and the documents used to help support those decisions, namely cabinet submissions and cabinet presentations.

* Understading and using effective analytical thinking
* Using creative skills in your job
* How to meet your superiors' expectations
* Much more....

 

The instructor is a highly-experienced trainer who works extensively with Canada’s federal, provincial and municipal governments.  He taught in the public sector for over 20 years and coaches public sector organizations while serving in a leadership position in a Public Administration postgraduate program.