What does this course cover?
This FrankGroup course, delivered in partnership with Taituarā, teaches a process for high-quality analysis and writing across local government. You will learn how to analyse issues and write compelling reports and other advice for decision-makers, including senior leaders and elected members. The course includes practical applied learning that is ideal for building a shared view of what “good analysis and writing” looks like across your team.
What does this course cover
This course covers the full range of local government writing, from reports and decision papers to councillor briefings and correspondence with members of the public. It enables you to hone your skills in analysis and writing to support sound, defensible decision-making, from analysing the supporting evidence, to crafting compelling papers. It also covers the responsible and effective use of AI.
Learning objectives
In this course, participants will learn how to:
- Apply a good-practice analytical framework to local government issues
- Integrate analysis into advice for decision-makers, including elected members
- Use the fundamentals of effective narrative to guide a decision maker through a change in their understanding
- Use a straightforward process for constructing a compelling paper for decision-making purposes, including under stress
- Communicate in clear, polished, plain language
- Make sound decisions about using AI in analysis and writing
Course format
The course combines live-learning sessions with practical activities. Learners are encouraged to collaborate and learn from each other.
Each week of the five-week course consists of:
- A two-hour live-learning session
What is covered in this course
Module One: Problem definition and evidence use for local government impact
Learn the basics of robust problem definition and curation of appropriate evidence, in the local government context
- The local government decision-making landscape
- Introduction to analytical frameworks
- Introduction to an all-purpose framework to conduct a multi-criteria analysis
- Problem definition
- Effective curation of evidence and data for decision making
- Effectively using AI for research
Module Two: Solution options and criteria for local government impact
Learn the key elements of identifying potential solutions to a defined problem, selecting criteria, conducting analysis, identify and mitigate risk and present a preferred solution option
- Development of robust criteria
- Good-practice solution options
- Potential outcomes and trade-offs from applying criteria differently
- Identifcation, minimisation and mitigation of risk
- Presenting preferred solution option(s) to decision maker
Module Three: Essential content
Learn how to curate the essential elements of your report, tailored to your audience
- Understand your audience and what their context means for how you structure your paper
- Recognise the fundamental elements of narrative
- Identify the purpose and effective shape of your narrative
- Be aware of some of the pitfalls of using narrative and metaphor
- Use AI intelligently in curating your report
Module Four: Report structure
Learn how to get your story straight through a summary paragraph, content subheadings and structured paragraphs
- Plan your paper effectively before you start writing it
- Establish a clear outline and use it as a framework to help keep your story concise, even as it iterates and other people get involved
- Identify the optimal level of detail for your readers
Module Five: Plain language
Learn the fundamentals of good writing: concise sentences and plain language
- The basic principles of plain language and why they matter: common words, short and simple sentence constructions, active voice, consistent terminology
- High-value improvements to others’ writing to make it easier to understand
- the value, and the limitations, of using AI in your writing process
Here’s what others say:
“Laid out a structured process for supporting and communicating decision making in environments of uncertainty.”
— Wellington City Council
“The Writing for Local Government course gave me the structure and framework I needed to write more concise and effective reports and documents in general.”
— Selwyn District Council
“One of the most useful and helpful writing courses I have done. The facilitator was very engaging and very clear in communicating the ideas.”
— Gisborne District Council
“I can recommend the writing for local government decisions course for all levels of writing ability. If learning to create defensible recommendations through the use of tools, concepts and guidelines to enable the writing of concise and compelling papers; then this course is for you.”
— Horizons Regional Council
Presented by
