The emperor's edicts stop at the village gate

Abstract

Objective: To present an overview of policy implementation, and develop principles for effective policy development and implementation.Method: An overview of literature on policy implementation, and analysis of lessons from some recent experiences in Australian and New Zealand mental health services.Conclusions: Effective development and deployment of policy is much more complex than the commonly held, simplistic compliance model. There are principles that can guide effective policy development and implementation. Future areas of study include the policy implementation systems and change management processes in the health service setting. © 2012 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College o..