Bryk 2014 Developing a Driver Diagram for a NIC

A Theory of Practice Improvement: Driver Diagrams

PC1: Improvement Science Basics

Alicia Grunow

Our Road Map for Learning

Seeing the System

Understanding the Problem

Developing a Theory of Practice

Improvement Establishing

an Aim

Effect

Cause Cause

Cause Cause

3

Understanding the Problem

Organizing Action

What is a Theory of Practice Improvement?

A working theory of most highly leveraged changes that are needed to achieve the desired outcomes

A Driver Diagram is an improvement tool used to communicate a theory of practice improvement

Typical Approach 1: Incoherent Activity

Foundation “X” Strategic

Priorities

Foundation

“Y” Strategic Priorities

Local Institutional

Considerations

A  new  priority  comes  into  view  

6

Improvement Aspirations

Current Performance ? Goal  GOAL  

Goal  

Typical Approach: Not getting down to action

7

“A  goal  without  a  method  is  nonsense.      By  what  method?”  –  Deming  

Educa<on  reform  is  “miracle  goals  without  methods.”  

     Deming  1991  

GOAL  

8

Theory of Practice Improvement

Current Performance

Theory of Practice

Improvement

“Probably wrong and definitely incomplete”

Goal  GOAL  

Driver Diagram Basics

 AIM    

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Drivers:  3-­‐5  main  areas  of  influence  that  drive  towards  the  aim    

-Outcomes -Gap you are trying to close

Secondary  Drivers  

Secondary  Drivers:  The  necessary  components  to  move  a  primary  driver  

 AIM    

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Driver Diagram Basics

•  Change  •  Change    •  Change    

Change: Specific ideas to be attempted. Hint: Tend to be processes, cultural norms, structures or roles

Secondary  Drivers  

 AIM    

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Primary  Driver  

Driver Diagram Basics

Tips for Crafting Drivers

PRIMARY DRIVERS

! Necessary and sufficient to moving outcome measures

! No more than 3-5 (highest leverage—Pareto Principle)

!  Based on evidence

!  Similar grain size

! Organize the work in a helpful way

SECONDARY DRIVERS

! Necessary and sufficient to move the primary drivers

! Only use when they are necessary to plan specific changes or interventions

12

Small Group Discussion

! STEM for an Aim Statements: Regular opportunities for teachers (and leaders) to share and collaboration order to__________________ (perhaps by when)

! Brainstorm possible primary drivers for this problem?

! If you have time try to articulate some secondary drivers too (say for one primary driver)

! Any change ideas?

13

BTEN Driver Diagram

Primary Drivers

Secondary Drivers Changes

School-based professional community

Feedback that supports improvement

Relationship btwn principals

and NTs

Hiring and placement

system

Professional development

for NTs 14

Feedback that supports improvement

Increase new teacher

efficacy and retention

-­‐Timeliness  of  the  decisions  -­‐Right  info  about  candidates    -­‐Right  info    on  schools  -­‐Targeted  recruitment  

Teaching  task  as  part  of  an  interview  

Goal

Developing your Driver Diagram

15

METHODS: ! 90-day R&D cycle

! Expert Convening

! Get started and iterate as you

improve – Analytics & testing

IDENTIFYING DRIVERS: ! Deep understanding of the

problem ! Research !  Successful organizations/

practitioners that have solved the problem

! Analogical thinking: Places where similar problems have been solved

! Work in the network

Building a Driver Diagram for BTEN

16

IdenEfy  New  Teacher  

RetenEon  as  a  problem    

Map  broad  understanding  of  the  system  

 Chose  a  parEcular  angle  

Build  out  individual  drivers  

Year before launch

Before invite

participants Before launch

Leadership System analysis -Research

-New Teachers -District & school Leaders

-Unions

Leadership Expert Convening Testing

90-day cycle

Develop  specific  changes  

Revise based on learning

Work in the network

Why (and when) a Driver Diagram?

! Creates a common language ! Focuses improvement efforts on the most

important parts of the system

! Shows how changes are related to the aim & how different projects fit into a larger portfolio of work ! Explicates the theory of practice improvement

so it can be tested

17