Policy framework

A policy framework is document that sets out a set of procedures or goals, which might be used in negotiation or decision-making to guide a more detailed set of policies, or to guide ongoing maintenance of an organization's policies. A framework might be used by a large organization such as a company, educational institution, or government, to inform employees about whose approval is needed to make new policies, what rules new policies must follow, how policies should be communicated and enforced, and what high-level or long-term goals that new policies should try to support. An advocacy group might propose a policy framework to suggest certain ideas to a government or private organization, but leave open details for decision-makers to fill in as they see fit. In a negotiation between governments (such as at an international forum), a policy framework might be agreed upon as a broad outline which will constrain future discussions, which are expected to work out details to the satisfaction of the parties.