The document outlines the use of driver diagrams as quality improvement (QI) tools to systematically identify change ideas and address quality challenges. It details the components of driver diagrams, including primary and secondary drivers, and emphasizes their role in generating theories and measuring progress towards improvement aims. The document also discusses techniques for creating effective driver diagrams through team collaboration and brainstorming methods.

1. Developing
Solutions:
Driver
Diagrams

2. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Discuss the utility of Driver Diagrams as QI tools to systematically identify
change ideas to address quality challenges
Define primary and secondary drivers as they relate to quality challenges
Apply Driver Diagrams to quality challenges
Learning Objectives

3. Outline
What is a Driver Diagram?
Components and Development of Driver Diagrams
Techniques for generating change ideas

4. Recap: QI Tool: Root Cause Analysis
Makes issues less
ambiguous
Minimizes bias
Incorporates the
perspective of
multiple team
members
Allows for a full
understanding of
all processes
Provides baseline
data

5. 1. Establish a QI team
2. Define the problem
3. Determine overall improvement aim
4. Develop system for measuring improvement
5. Identify & test change ideas
6. Collect data & analyze change
REMINDER: COMMON QI PROJECT STEPS

6. The Model for Improvement
AIM
What are we trying
to accomplish?
MEASUREMENT
How will we know if
a change is an
improvement?
CHANGE
What changes can
we make to result in
improvement?
Act Plan
Do
Study
- Langley G, Nolan T, Norman C, Provost L (1996) The Improvement Guide
Driver diagrams are a
QI tool that can help
teams answer this
question

7. Help to answer the question,
What change can we make that will lead to improvement?
• Conceptualize a quality issue and generate change ideas linked to root
causes
• Explore systems and process mechanisms through primary and secondary
drivers
• Generate theories and hypotheses about change initiatives that can
lead to improvement
Driver Diagrams

8. • Strategic planning and analysis tool that is updated
systematically throughout an entire project
• Breaks down an aim into the drivers that contribute to and
the detailed actions that could be done to achieve the aim
• Helps to focus on the cause-and-effect relationships
that exist in complicated systems
• Provides a pathway for change which identifies the types of
interventions that can bring about the desired outcome
Driver Diagrams: Purpose

9. Driver Diagrams
Logically links change ideas to drivers
Often used with Fishbone Diagrams and Process Maps as part of the
participatory improvement process to utilize the list of identified causes
and organize them into action steps that will lead to improved aim

10. Driver Diagrams
Where possible, driver
diagrams should be
measurable and SMART
Can serve as both a change
and measurement
framework for tracking
progress towards aim
There is no right or wrong
driver diagram, diagrams
represent the team’s
shared mental model
Diagrams are living
documents and will adapt
as change ideas are tested
and results measured
through PDSA cycles.

11. • Aim Statement
• Primary Drivers: System factors, processes,
structures and influences that directly link to
aim
• Secondary Drivers: Situation-specific factors
that can form the basis for specific
interventions
• Change Ideas
• Measurement Indicators
Driver Diagrams: Main Components

12. Key Components of a Driver Diagram
Improvement
Aim
Primary Driver
Secondary Driver Change Idea
Secondary Driver Change Idea
Primary Driver
Secondary Driver Change Idea
Secondary Driver Change Idea
Primary Drivers
System factors,
processes,
structures and/or
influences that are
directly linked to
the aim
Secondary Drivers
Situation-specific
factors that can
form the basis for
individual
interventions
Aim Statement
Improvement
goal
Change Ideas
Interventions

13. • Team approach: Gather key stakeholders
• Start with the improvement aim
• Brainstorm: What main factors influence the aim?
» Where? What? When? Who? Why?
• Group drivers into primary or secondary
• Generate change ideas related to the drivers
• Link the drivers and change ideas with arrows
• Include indicators and measurements
Developing a Driver Diagram

14. High-level factors that directly influence the aim
Can form the basis for outcome indicators
Examples can include the major categories in a fishbone diagram:
Primary Drivers
Manpower, Machines, Management, Measurement, Methods & Materials
Price, Promotion, People, Process, Place, Policy, Procedure & Product
Surroundings, Suppliers, Systems & Skills
Job expectations, Performance feedback, Environment &
tools, Skills & Knowledge, Organisational Support, Motivation

15. • Lower-level, more actionable drivers
• Drivers that can form the basis for specific interventions
• Situation-specific causes or factors that are related to the primary driver
• Measurable components are usually process indicators
Secondary Drivers

16. • Literature reviews and evidence base
• Professional networks and associations
• Borrowing and collaborations
• Review of failed ideas
• Creative brainstorming methods
Generating Change Ideas

17. Aim for quantity (The more ideas the better)
Encourage participation (Welcome & note all ideas)
Do not rush to criticize
Once list is complete
o Categorize/group ideas
o Analyze & reduce list of ideas
Brainstorming change ideas: Dos & Don’ts

18. Weight Loss Example

19. Cheers team