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A theory of improvement is simply a testable prediction of the activities and infrastructure necessary to achieve a desired outcome.
Teams can build a driver diagram to help them articulate a theory for improvement. A driver diagram moves teams from their AIM to specific change ideas, or the well-focused actions they can implement to test out their theory. It helps teams to systematically sort through the many options that exist and identify one that has good chances of success.
A driver diagram shows the relationship between the overall aim of a project, the primary drivers that contribute directly to achieving the aim, the secondary drivers that are components of the primary drivers, and specific change ideas that teams may test out.
Primary drivers are those the team hypothesizes has the most important influence on the aim, and you will have only a few (we recommend 2 to 5);
Secondary drivers are influencers on (or natural subsections of) the primary drivers, and you may have many.
Change ideas are specific programs, practices or procedures you can put in place to activate the drivers.
handout12_Driver-diagram-template.pdfhandout11_Driver-diagram-example.pdfPage updated
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