The policy cycle model considers the policy process as an iterative, ongoing cycle of policy design, negotiation, development, implementation and evaluation. BESAFE divides the policy cycle into five phases:

1. Problem framing, where the issues that the policy needs to address are identified
2. Policy formulation, where policy options are developed
3. Policy adoption, where a particular course of action is adopted
4. Policy implementation, where policies are put into effect
5. Policy evaluation, where results are monitored, and problems and solutions reconsidered

The context and the parties involved in the decision making process evolve from phase to phase and, as our results show, selecting the right arguments is therefore phase specific.