Hindsight, foresight, insight: three lenses for better policy-making

Sally Washington

International Review of Public Administration, 2023, vol. 28, issue 2, 255-264

Abstract: This article highlights three common capability gaps that are increasingly apparent in government policy making: learning from the past, anticipating the future, and bringing more diverse voices into public policy design and delivery. It advocates for the integration of three essential capabilities – hindsight, foresight, and deep insight – into policy making systems to enhance the evidence used in policy decisions and to shift mind-sets from narrow problem-solving to creating opportunities for better futures for society. To develop hindsight capability, policy makers must transition toward a learning system that prioritizes continuous adaptation. The integration of foresight capability into policy design can enhance policy makers’ abilities to proactively anticipate and address potential future challenges. For a more comprehensive understanding of policy and its effects on stakeholders, policy makers can improve the utilization of data and user-centered design methodologies. Establishing an evidence infrastructure that incorporates academic expertise can support effective government policy making and better-informed policy choices.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1080/12294659.2023.2192621

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