PAC PAC Strategic Planning & Policy Development 2

Question 1

Which planning framework involves working backward from a desired future state to identify the steps needed to achieve it?

Accepted Answer

Backcasting

Answer

Backcasting starts with a defined future goal and works backward to identify the policies and actions required to reach that goal from the present.

Question 2

A state agency conducts a 'futures analysis' to prepare its 10-year strategic plan. Which technique is most useful for exploring plausible alternative futures under conditions of uncertainty?

Accepted Answer

Scenario planning

Answer

Scenario planning develops multiple plausible future narratives to help organizations make robust strategic decisions that hold up across different possible futures.

Question 3

When prioritizing policy options, which criterion asks whether a policy can achieve its goals with a reasonable level of resources?

Accepted Answer

Technical feasibility

Answer

Technical feasibility assesses whether an option can realistically be implemented given available technology, human capital, and administrative capacity.

Question 4

In policy analysis, which criterion evaluates whether the benefits and burdens of a policy are distributed fairly across different groups?

Accepted Answer

Equity

Answer

The equity criterion examines who gains and who bears costs from a policy, including distributional justice across income, race, geography, or other dimensions.

Question 5

A policy analyst presents five options to a cabinet secretary using a 'decision matrix' that rates each option on cost, effectiveness, equity, and feasibility. What is the primary advantage of this approach?

Accepted Answer

It allows systematic multi-criteria comparison of options in a transparent and structured format

Answer

A decision matrix makes trade-offs explicit and transparent, helping decision-makers evaluate options against multiple criteria simultaneously.

(PAC) Policy Analyst Certification Practice Test

(PAC) Policy Analyst Certification Practice Test

PAC PAC Strategic Planning & Policy Development 2