PAC PAC Strategic Planning & Policy Development

Question 1

Which tool helps policy analysts identify internal organizational strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats when developing a strategic plan?

Accepted Answer

SWOT analysis

Answer

Logic model

Answer

Decision tree

Answer

Fishbone diagram

Question 2

In strategic planning, 'SMART' goals are defined as goals that are:

Accepted Answer

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound

Answer

Sustainable, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Transparent

Answer

Strategic, Managed, Aligned, Resourced, and Tracked

Answer

Simple, Meaningful, Actionable, Responsive, and Testable

Question 3

The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Modernization Act of 2010 primarily requires federal agencies to:

Accepted Answer

Develop strategic plans, set performance goals, and report publicly on progress toward those goals

Answer

Submit annual budgets aligned with zero-based budgeting principles

Answer

Conduct regulatory impact analyses for all new programs

Answer

Establish independent inspector general offices for program oversight

Question 4

A policy analyst is helping an agency develop its first strategic plan. Which step should logically come first?

Accepted Answer

Defining the agency's mission and conducting an environmental scan

Answer

Setting performance measures for existing programs

Answer

Identifying which programs to cut to fund strategic priorities

Answer

Drafting the strategic plan document for stakeholder review

Question 5

Which type of policy analysis focuses on developing options and recommendations before a policy decision is made?

Accepted Answer

Prospective (prescriptive) policy analysis

Answer

Ex post evaluation

Answer

Summative evaluation

Answer

Impact assessment

Question 6

In policy development, 'problem structuring' is important because:

Accepted Answer

Poorly structured or incorrectly defined problems lead to solutions that fail to address root causes

Answer

It ensures problems are assigned to the correct regulatory agency for resolution

Answer

It satisfies procedural requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act

Answer

It allows analysts to limit the number of policy alternatives considered