Training Module
Policy Management
Design coherent, auditable policy frameworks that align with strategy, scale across entities, and stay current without excess bureaucracy
Overview
Organisations often accumulate a fragmented set of policies that grow organically, drift out of date, and eventually conflict across different teams or entities.
This module provides a structured approach to governing policies as a controlled system rather than a collection of static documents, ensuring that policy intent remains applicable to daily decisions. It addresses the common frustrations of policy sprawl and unclear ownership by teaching disciplined drafting techniques and robust lifecycle management. Participants leave with the ability to design a coherent policy hierarchy and manage change, exceptions, and harmonisation across multiple entities without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
Applicable environments
This module is applicable across a wide range of management systems and organisational contexts. The concepts are not tied to a specific ISO standard and are used wherever organisations need clear, workable processes, defined ownership, and embedded controls.
It is commonly applied in quality, information security, environmental, and other ISO-based management systems, as well as in non-certified environments that require structured, auditable operations.
Target audience
Management system implementers and coordinators
Executives and department heads accountable for management system performance
Those responsible for processes, policies, assets, risks, and controls related to a management system
Auditors seeking insights into management-side best practice (not audit technique)
Management consultants working with management system design, governance, or improvement
Decision support
Is this module for you?
Agenda
What policy management actually covers
Policy architecture and levels
Roles and approvals for the policy lifecycle
Drafting clear, testable policy statements
Lifecycle control: change, review, and retirement
Exceptions and justified deviations
Harmonisation across entities in group structures
Practical maintenance: keeping policies and guidance usable over time
Case-based workshop
Show detailed agenda...
Learning outcomes
Key outcomes
Design a policy hierarchy that distinguishes different policy levels while defining clear applicability boundaries
Draft clear and testable policy statements that express management intent without turning into detailed procedures
Define workable policy lifecycle roles and approval responsibilities that meet auditable governance expectations
Additional capabilities
Operate lifecycle controls for the creation, periodic review, and retirement of policies with full version traceability
Manage policy exceptions and deviations using structured decision records and defined renewal rules
Harmonise group-wide policies across multiple entities while allowing for controlled and justified local variation
Apply structured checks to identify duplicates, conflicts, and outdated wording within the policy set
Materials
Learning materials
Slide deck
Participant workbook
Templates & tools
Practical, reusable artefacts to apply the module directly to your organisation.
Policy framework
Policy register
Group policy hierarchy model
Policy management process
Exception handling process
Exception register
AI prompt set for policy management
Confirmation
Certificate of completion
Module ID
HAM-AG-C-03
Discipline
ISO standard
Standard clause
5: Leadership
Domains
Target audience
Public delivery
Live virtual
Duration
7 h
List price
CHF 550
Excl. VAT. VAT may apply depending on customer location and status.
Delivery
Live virtual delivery
This module is delivered live online and combines conceptual framing, discussion, case work and direct interaction with the instructor.
A public cohort is currently not scheduled. If you register your interest, we will notify you when a new public cohort is scheduled or suitable delivery options become available.
Custom delivery options
For organisations with specific constraints or learning objectives, the module can be adapted in format or scope, including in-house delivery and contextualised case material.
For an optimal learning experience
Prerequisites & preparation
This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.
Assumed background
No formal prerequisites. The module assumes general familiarity with how organisations document governance expectations and operate management systems.
Helpful background includes:
Basic understanding of management system documentation (policies, procedures, records)
Familiarity with organisational roles and approval practices
Preparatory modules
Foundational modules (depending on background)
Useful if you are new to the underlying concepts or want a shared baseline before attending this module.
