August 2017

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

HUMAN RESOURCES LINE OF BUSINESS

Improving Policy Implementation (IPI)

The Multi-Agency Policy Advisory Council (MPAC) launched the Improving Policy Implementation (IPI) initiative in June 

2016. The IPI initiative seeks to promote a consistent, government-wide interpretation of policy, regulations, and 

requirements; establish a standard model for the operationalization of policies; and ensure greater adherence to federal 

laws and regulations. The MPAC works closely with OPM Policy Offices and Shared Service Providers (SSPs—HR/payroll 

and self-servicing agencies) to bridge communication gaps and promote collaboration from policy development to 

implementation, facilitating a more streamlined and effective channel between key policy stakeholders. 

What is the purpose of the IPI?

MPAC research into the policy landscape revealed a lack of

collaboration between OPM Policy Offices that provide 

policy guidance and Shared Service Providers (SSPs) that 

are expected to implement policies according to guidance. 

The IPI evolved to address the needs of the policy 

implementation environment by serving as a bridge of 

communication between policy offices and SSPs.

The goal of the IPI initiative is to bridge the communication 

gap between OPM Policy Offices and SSPs, as well as 

develop tools and systems that facilitate more effective 

collaboration. The IPI promotes the collaboration across all 

stakeholders from policy inception to implementation. 

Who does the IPI benefit?

The IPI benefits three key stakeholders: 

OPM Policy Offices – OPM Policy Offices will offer 

guidance in a format that will ease the implementation 

processes and reduce the amount of time spent assisting

providers and agencies to implement new policies.

SSPs – SSPs will receive guidance that efficiently outlines 

how new regulations will affect and change their business 

processes, allowing for easier implementation. 

Agencies—There will be more consistent adherence to HR 

policy across government agencies, enabling better 

support for employees and a greater focus on meeting 

mission objectives.

What is the IPI comprised of?

Three work outputs:

Draft Policy Implementation Package—The Policy 

Implementation Package is intended to assist both 

policy developers and policy implementers in 

easily identifying all information needed for policy 

implementation. The package includes a 

comprehensive list of common elements that 

comprise a policy change in a standardized format 

that allows for easier reference. 

Draft Standard Workflow Process—The policy 

workflow maps out the major events that take 

place during the policy development and review

process. The workflow shows the sequence of 

events and how stakeholders interact with each 

other throughout the process. 

Final Policy Implementation Package and Final 

Standard Workflow Implementation Process –

During working group sessions, the HRLOB will 

gather feedback to improve and update outputs 

by discussing common challenges and building 

relationships among stakeholders. The working 

groups examine common pain points, challenges, 

and discuss leading practices. 

In 2017, the MPAC was awarded the OPM 

Director’s Award for Excellence in Support of 

Strategic Goals for the IPI initiative.

 FAQ

Q: What is involved in participation in the policy implementation package?

A: The HRLOB will work with OPM Policy Offices to populate the policy implementation package with information about 

the regulation and work with SSPs to gather their input on important policy implementation considerations. The HRLOB is 

currently conducting policy implementation package tests. 

Q: What is the purpose of a policy implementation package test?

A: The test is intended to apply the policy implementation package to an active regulation to demonstrate the benefits of 

using this tool during policy development and make any necessary updates or improvements to the package.

Q: How can I participate in a policy implementation package test?

A: Please send your request to HRLOB@opm.gov to participate in a test and the MPAC team will contact you.