Policy
lastmod 2026-07-15created 2026-07-152 edits
A policy is a deliberate system of guidelines to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. Policies are generally adopted by a governance body within an organization. Policies can assist in both subjective and objective decision making. Policies used in subjective decision making usually assist senior management with decisions that must be based on the relative merits of a number of factors, and as a result are often hard to test objectively. An example is a work–life balance policy. In addition, governments and other institutions have policies in the form of laws, regulations, procedures, administrative actions, incentives, and voluntary practices. Frequently, resource allocations mirror policy decisions.