The rationale, or purpose, is the foundational element of any effective policy. It explains why the policy is necessary, what problem it aims to solve, or what objective it seeks to achieve. Including the rationale in the first draft is critical because it provides the context and justification for all other components, such as roles, responsibilities, and application procedures. This ensures that all stakeholders understand the policy's intent from the outset, which is essential for gaining buy-in and guiding the subsequent drafting and review process.

B. Points of contact for the employee: This is an operational detail that is important for the final policy but is typically determined after the core framework and responsibilities are established.
C. Roles and responsibilities of the different groups of individuals: While crucial, defining specific roles and responsibilities logically follows the establishment of the policy's core purpose and justification (the rationale).
D. Explanation of how the policy is applied within the organization: The scope and application are detailed based on the foundational rationale; the "why" must be established before the "how" and "where."

1. IAPP Official Textbook: Densmore, R. (2019). Privacy Program Management: Tools for Managing Privacy Within Your Organization (3rd ed.). IAPP Publications. In Chapter 4, "Privacy Policies, Procedures and The Privacy Program," Section 4.2, "Developing and Implementing a Privacy Policy," the text outlines common elements of a policy. The "Purpose/Objective" is consistently presented as a primary, foundational section that explains the reason for the policy's existence (p. 103).

2. Academic Guidance on Policy Development: In policy management frameworks taught in public administration and management courses, the problem statement or rationale is the first step. For example, the policy cycle model begins with "agenda setting" and "policy formulation," which inherently involve defining the problem and the rationale for intervention. This principle is mirrored in corporate policy development. (Source: The Policy Cycle, adapted from models by Lasswell, Brewer, and deLeon, is a standard framework in public policy education, e.g., taught in courses like those from the Harvard Kennedy School).