3.6 The strategic dimension should set out the rationale and objectives of the proposal (as outlined in Box 3). It should describe the current situation and continuing with the current arrangements without making any changes, known as Business As Usual (BAU). BAU provides the counterfactual against which alternative options are compared.
3.7 Analysis and assumptions should have an objective basis in research. Relevant evidence can be drawn from evaluations of past interventions, evidence of "what works2", international comparisons, academic and other literature and relevant experience. The strategic dimension should also identify where there are gaps in the evidence base.
3.8 The strategic dimension should identify the gaps between the desired outcomes and Business As Usual that an intervention sets out to address. Bridging these gaps is the key rationale for intervention. The rationale and objectives should ideally be described as outcomes, which will often be the changes experienced by people receiving a service e.g. improvements in health outcomes resulting from a change in output of health services. The objectives should not bias the choice of options towards a particular pre-determined solution.
3.9 A small set (up to 5 or 6) of Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and Time-limited (SMART) objectives should be identified in the strategic dimension. They will ideally include the outcomes that are the rationale for a proposal and in some cases the outputs required to deliver them.
3.10 The strategic dimension ensures the strategic fit of new proposals with the existing policies and wider public sector objectives. Practical, ethical, legal and other constraints must be identified at the outset, along with any external dependencies beyond the scope and control of the proposal being considered e.g. supporting infrastructure and services. Constraints and dependencies should be understood, documented and explicitly taken into account.
3.11 Research, consultation and engagement with stakeholders and the wider public, should be conducted at an early stage. This provides understanding of the current situation and valuable insights into potential improvements.
_________________________________________________________________________________
2 The What Works Network for example.