Discovery-phase data collection: surveys, listening sessions, and project inventories to map the current system¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

During the Discovery Phase, teams use surveys for "initial, broad representation from as many staff as possible," listening sessions that let participants "explore and clarify their views" beyond what one-on-one interviews allow, and project inventories in which each office lists significant projects, desired work, collaborations, and challenges. R15CC codes and tallies responses, identifies themes (e.g., structure, purpose, workflow, collaboration) using organizational diagnosis models such as the Six Box Model, and categorizes them as strengths, challenges and opportunities, and emergent cross-office topics.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Survey design based on discussions with the division director about potential strengths and challenges
• Work sessions where staff reflect upon, validate or refine, and prioritize themes to hone a shared problem statement

Constraints¶

• Specific activities and tools vary by project since the process is iterative and contextual

Target Learners¶

• SEA division staff and Systems Review Team members

Target Learning Goals¶

• Building shared understanding of current processes and identifying root causes of inefficiency and incoherence

Related Strategies¶

• Hold listening sessions in accessible locations where staff simply listen to educational partners
• Using Empathy Interviews for Family Engagement
• Five getting-started steps for building an integrated, school-based system of care
• Anticipate barriers to data use by building in strategies for future data use from initial conversations, and trust the process by going at the community's pace.
• Implementation-phase supports: staff engagement, communication and action plans, thought partnership, and self-assessment rubrics
• Future SSSC evaluation work: collect data from directors, gather detailed activity data, and interview policymakers and practitioners to develop impact measures

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Mattson, H., Zoffel, J., & McCormick, M. (2023). Systems Reviews: An Approach to Building Coherence, Increasing Efficiency, and Improving Workflow at State Education Agencies. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED628329