In a world where actions speak louder than words, the shift from policies to practices is not just a preference but a necessity for organisations and institutions to thrive. Policies serve as the foundational guidelines that shape an entity’s operations, while practices represent the actual implementation of those policies in real-world scenarios.
Policies are indeed vital as they provide the necessary structure and framework for decision-making and behaviour within organisations or societies. However, relying solely on them can be rather limiting. First, policies, when confined to paper or digital documents, may stagnate and remain unimplemented, resulting in minimal real-world impact. Second, in a rapidly-changing world, policies can swiftly become outdated or irrelevant, creating a misalignment between objectives and execution.
Policy vs practice
According to Ravi Kumar, CPO, Page Industries, both policies and practices play distinct roles.
“Policies provide essential guidelines for long-term direction, serving as a manifestation of our intentions. Practices, however, are more pragmatic and adaptable, evolving with the changing world around us. The pace of change in the world is accelerating daily, necessitating a proactive stance in our practices to remain relevant and contemporary,” observes Kumar.
“Policies provide essential guidelines for long-term direction, serving as a manifestation of our intentions. Practices, however, are more pragmatic and adaptable, evolving with the changing world around us”
Ravi Kumar, CPO, Page Industries
In the opinion of Jayant Kumar, CHRO, ACC and Ambuja Cement, there are benefits to this transition provided we recognise that policies and practices serve distinct roles. Policies set the long-term direction and communicate our intent, while practices are pragmatic, adapting as the world evolves.
“The relentless pace of change requires us to stay agile and contemporary. Policies, on the other hand, offer stability and also necessitate meticulous study and comparison as we shift from intention to implementation. Implementing policies may be a straightforward process, but ensuring employee compliance and making them a part of the organisational culture poses challenges.”
Policies often leave room for interpretation, leading to varying implementations and unintended consequences. Lastly, there’s the risk that employees or members may adhere to policies out of obligation rather than a genuine commitment to the organisation’s goals. These limitations underscore the importance of complementing policies with practical and adaptive practices to effectively bridge the gap between intent and action.
Shifting to practices is often more crucial than merely implementing policies because practices translate policies into tangible actions, ensuring that intentions are effectively realised. While policies provide a framework, practices offer the dynamic means to adapt, respond to change and hold individuals accountable for their actions. They foster a culture of continuous improvement, align with evolving circumstances, and cultivate trust and commitment among stakeholders, ultimately driving an organisation’s success and sustainability.
“Implementing policies may be a straightforward process, but ensuring employee compliance and making them a part of the organisational culture poses challenges”
Jayant Kumar, CHRO, ACC and Ambuja Cement
Implementing the shift
To transition from policies to practices effectively, organisations should take several crucial steps. First and foremost, they must focus on communication and education by ensuring that all stakeholders fully comprehend the significance of translating policies into actionable practices. Providing training and the necessary resources to support this shift is essential.
Udbhav Ganjoo, head-HR, Viatris, shares that in the realm of human resources, the shift from rigid policy enforcement to a more flexible and adaptive practice-oriented approach is paramount.
“This transition allows HR to respond effectively to dynamic workplace challenges, especially in the post-pandemic world. By prioritising practical implementation and employee engagement over policy compliance, organisations can achieve greater success, improve performance and nurture a culture of adaptability.”
However, he mentions that this shift necessitates a cultural transformation and ongoing measurement and feedback mechanisms to ensure its effectiveness.
Additionally, alignment is paramount. It’s crucial to harmonise policies and practices to ensure they work seamlessly together, with practices embodying the objectives outlined in the policies. This alignment helps in effective achievement of organisational goals.
“This transition allows HR to respond effectively to dynamic workplace challenges, especially in the post-pandemic world. By prioritising practical implementation and employee engagement over policy compliance, organisations can achieve greater success, improve performance and nurture a culture of adaptability”
Udbhav Ganjoo, head-HR, Viatris
To maintain continuous improvement, organisations should establish feedback loops. This involves setting up mechanisms for feedback and evaluation, which can pinpoint areas where policies may need to be refined or where practices may need to be enhanced.
Leadership plays a pivotal role in this transition. Leaders should lead by example, showcasing their unwavering commitment to implementing policies and setting high standards for others to emulate.
Jayant Kumar mentions that overcoming these challenges requires a rigorous approach to implementation ingrained within the organisational culture. In order to achieve this overall, he says, “Alignment within the leadership team and consistent follow-through on promises are crucial. Ultimately, the shift from policy to practice is a journey towards greater relevance and adaptability in our ever-evolving world.”
Policies lay the groundwork, but it is through practices that they come to life, shaping the culture, impact and success of the entities they govern. By emphasising this transition, we can bridge the gap between intent and realisation, fostering a more agile, accountable, and effective environment in our ever-evolving world.
Nevertheless, Ravi Kumar strongly believes that it’s important to acknowledge that policies also serve a purpose and have the potential to bring about significant changes. However, implementing them successfully requires meticulous study and comparison. We find ourselves gradually shifting from intent to action, as implementing a policy may be straightforward, but ensuring employee compliance and integration into their daily routines poses a unique challenge.
