guide helping you to visualise your theory of change, including primary and secondary drivers which support achieving your aim

1. © ABCi 2019
What is a Driver Diagram?
A driver diagram is a tool that visually demonstrates your ‘theory of change’. This will include your
overall aim, any specific objectives and your ideas for change. Your driver diagram relates to the system
you are working in and want to improve.
On the left is your overall aim. Primary drivers are large ‘buckets’ of change ideas that will help you
achieve your aim. A secondary driver is a more specific ‘sub-bucket’ of change ideas that help you
achieve your primary driver. On the far right of the driver diagram are very specific ideas that you might
test (PDSA cycles). All drivers link back to the ultimate aim.
When would you use this tool?
This tool is used at the start of an improvement process to describe the changes that will be
undertaken. It may be reviewed during the course of your improvement journey in response to new
learning.
What are the benefits of using this tool?
A driver diagram is a useful tool to capture your theory of change and communicate this with others. It
makes specific links between tests of change that staff are undertaking with the ultimate aim of your
improvement. It is also useful to act as a framework to develop your measurement strategy. For
instance your ultimate aim and individual processes should be measured to assess progress.
Who needs to be involved?
Those with expert knowledge of the area in
question should develop the driver diagram.
All teams involved in the improvement process
should use the driver diagram to focus their
improvement work.
What resources do I need?
 Flipchart paper
 Marker pens
 Expert knowledge
Driver
Diagram
ABC
improvement
iSkills for

2. © ABCi 2019
Hints & Tips
Language such as ‘improve’, ‘increase’ or ‘decrease’ is often used. Each driver should be clearly
described and potentially measureable.
No driver diagram is perfect, it represents your evolving theory of change. However, those involved in
the improvement work should agree with the content of your driver diagram.
There may be several primary/secondary drivers or change ideas, you can use your driver diagram to
prioritise your changes.
Next Steps
Use your driver diagram to inform your improvement work, regularly review it in the light of new
learning.
Example Driver Diagram - The example looks at the drivers that will impact on the aim of losing weight.
How do you do it?
Step 1: Start with a clearly defined aim (how much, by when?); e.g. lose 1 stone in weight within 2
months.
Step 2: Brainstorm potential drivers (the areas where change will impact on your aim). Don’t worry
about allocating them into primary and secondary drivers at this stage. Drivers are generally evidence
based or based on expert knowledge.
Step 3: Once you have gathered all of your potential drivers, group these into themes, this will help you
to understand if your drivers are primary, secondary or specific ideas to test.
Step 4: Arrange your primary/secondary drivers and change ideas into the driver diagram format as in
the example below.