Monitor New Policy Matches

1. Introduction
2. Video
3. Choosing the Right Policy to Monitor
4. Suggested Tips for:
   • The Inbox Zero Tracker
   • The Priority Policy Master
   • The Policy Peruser
5. Best Practices

Introduction

Discovery Alerts help save time by curating lists of new policy documents for your review.  Matches are delivered in an email called the 'Discovery Alert Digest'. Save time and quickly review the new policy documents, already grouped by topic, and identify which new bills or regulations are impactful and which are not.

FiscalNote saves even more time with its Issues Management workflow.  Instead of being required to constantly check the status of 3 impactful new bills, for example, FiscalNote will let you know if they change. Email updates on status changes and other future activity, such as a committee designation, will be delivered in an email called the 'Issues Digest'. 

Read below to learn how to organize your policy matches and automate your own unique workflow. 

Video

Choosing the Right Policy to Monitor

After reviewing your Daily Digest email, log in to FiscalNote. Head to your Discovery Alerts inbox by clicking 'All Discovery Alerts' from Alerts in the menu:

Just like an email inbox, all matches will sit in your Discovery Alerts inbox until an action is taken.  In FiscalNote, 1 of 2 actions will remove a match: (1) 'Add to Issue' or (2) 'Mark as Irrelevant'. 

Click the 'Thumbs Down' icon to mark a policy document as irrelevant (or 'Mark as Irrelevant' in the preview panel).  This means that the bill or regulation does not match your interests, and there is no need to monitor future activity and/or report out on it:

If you need to monitor for future updates or to potentially report out on the policy document in question, assign it to an Issue. 

Hover over the plus sign and click the corresponding topic to add the match to an Issue:

If you aren't sure if the record is worth monitoring, click the white space of the match to see a preview.  Review the sample text match and either add it to an Issue, Mark as Irrelevant, or leave it in your inbox as 'Read' for review at a further date:

What Kind of Tracker am I? Best Practices for Different Users 

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The "Inbox Zero" Tracker

Who you are: 

The ultimate perfectionist.  Perhaps a little paranoid.  All for good reason -- you need to review every single potential consequence resulting from new policy, no matter how small.  Your job could be on the line if you "miss a bill".

How to Manage Matches:

1. Set aside a daily block of time to review your Digest.  
2. Aim for a "Net Zero" Discovery Alert inbox every day.  Clear out ALL matches by either adding to an Issue or marking as irrelevant:
   
   
3. Give yourself the confidence you have reviewed all matches by working out of the All Alerts queue:
   
   
4. Keep in mind that All Alerts applies only to the specific Document Type selected.  Be cognizant and always toggle to other types of alerts via the drop-down menu under the 'Create Discovery Alert' tab: 
   
   

The Priority Policy Master

Who you are: 

Concerned with high priority policy.  Don't have the time to read all new bills or regulations.  Efficiency, speed, and top company or client concerns are your focus.

How to Manage Matches:

1. Skim the Digest email for matches that seem to stick out.  The title or text preview may give you all the information you need to make a decision. 
2. Log in to FiscalNote and use filters in your Discover Alert inbox to find any significant matches. 
   
   
3. Aim to set aside a small daily review block to read through important matches.  If you can't afford a daily review with your schedule, set aside a weekly block of time.  The consequences of policy introduced in your area of focus can hold significant weight, so it's highly important to stay ahead.
4. If it's unclear whether or not a match requires monitoring, leave the match in your queue as 'Read'.  This ensures the bill or regulation will remain in your Discovery Alert inbox until a future decision is made.  However, keep in mind that you will ONLY receive email notifications on future activity once a bill or regulation has been added to an Issue.  If this approach becomes commonplace, set aside more time in your review block specifically for your 'Read' matches.

The Policy Peruser

Who you are: 

Casual observer.  Intrigued by policy but tracking is not a top job responsibility.  Generally, the Policy Peruser doesn't actually perform much policy tracking of any type.  More of a researcher, Policy Perusers use Discovery Alerts for tactics and initiatives such as following legislative trends in real time.  

How to Manage Matches:

1. Skim your Digest email at intervals of your choosing.  If you happen to come across a bill or regulation that you need to monitor, still make sure to log-in to FiscalNote and add the match to an Issue:
   
   
2. Use filters in your Discovery Alert inbox to draw insight on trends.  Filter by time in the 'bills over' drop down menu to better understand spikes in frequency:
   
   
3. Use the Discovery Alert as a Search tool.  Click a specific Discovery Alert and click the green Search tab in the pop up window on the right.  Browse past sessions and use more research-based filters on the Search results screen:
   
   

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