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Trying it Out: The role of pilots in policy-making

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The influential paper on modernising government 'Adding It Up' (PDF, National School of Government) called for the methods used in existing policy trials to be evaluated and recommended the creation of a panel to oversee an exchange of experience between departments across UK administrations to consider the future role of pilots (TSO, 2000).  The report “Trying it Out”, published in 2003, is the result of this review.
Professor Roger Jowell, City University chaired the review panel and reported on its findings.  The review consisted of:

• a workshop of experts in the field of social policy evaluation and piloting
• a literature review charting the experience of successful and unsuccesful policy pilots both in the UK and internationally
• a self-completion questionnaire for the heads of research in government departments across the UK administrations
• face-to-face interviews with senior civil servants in both research and policy roles
• face-to-face interviews with ministers
• case studies.

The review covered all aspects of piloting policy, including the different types and uses of pilot, the different approaches/methodologies that can be used, the use of pilots in the US and the use and experience of using them in the UK.  As a result, the report produced a number of recommendations foucusing on 5 key areas:

• the role of pilots
• pre-conditions of pilots
• key properties of pilots
• methods and practices of piloting
• using pilot results. 

These have implcations for researchers in government, policy makers, practitioners and those evaluating pilots. 

• Trying it out: full report (PDF, 271KB)
• Trying it out: full report (browseable version)

For more information on the review contact: Government Social Research Unit