Need for Alternate Policy Instruments

• Benchmarking is the process of establishing industry standards.
•   Codes of Conduct are guidelines on how a business should interact with its customers. Upholding of these codes involuntarily. If such codes are broken, it attracts penalties like fine, dismissal from industry association, etc.
•   Co-Regulation allows for industry autonomy while adhering to well defined parameters laid out in a legal framework. The traditional system provides the same amount of security as before, but with more flexibility and efficiency.
•   Negotiated agreements must be adhered to by the Organisations in order to remain a part of the community.

Recommendations for Increasing Evidence-Based Decision Making:

•   Learning how to communicate with policymakers in ‘public policy language.’ Policymakers want to use a distinct tone when they communicate. They read several policy documents to gain a feel of how the authors employ words and phrases, as well as what they say.
•   Concentrating on communicating effectively with a variety of stakeholders and target audiences. It is critical to comprehend your target audience in order to communicate with them effectively. A variety of communication mediums (internet, radio, television, print, magazines, conferences, etc.) can be used to deliver the message to different target audiences in different ways.
•   Using imagination and a variety of tools. Use new technologies and communication channels to connect with your target audience. Alternatively, to increase the possibility of the target paying attention to the message, employ approaches in a fresh, unconventional way.
•   Assessing the client’s requirements. Recognize what data owners desire, how they want it supplied, and what they want to do with it. This will broaden the scope of your agency as well as the utilisation of research-based data. Because every actor in the policy network has the power to affect policy, it’s vital to think about and respond to their demands.
•   Policymakers should be involved in research planning. It is critical that policymakers are involved in the research process from the start.
• Spending some time thinking about the current and ideal roles (if any) at each stage of the policy cycle. Determine the most efficient times and ways to participate, as well as the impact you are likely to have. Serving on an advisory group could be a wonderful approach to learn about policy needs and timetables while also being active in the process.