QUERI Implementation Guide
Section 1, Part 2: Diagnosis and Intervention Targeting Web Resources
A wide variety of disciplines contribute to the methodology of systems and task analysis, and problem diagnosis. Here are links to some detailed resources representing the diversity of the field. Inclusion of a site link does not constitute an endorsement of any tool for any specific purpose. No endorsement of any links followed from these sites is intended.
Web resources for Systems Thinking
Engineering/Design/Quality Management Methods
Theory of Constraints/Throughput Analysis: Systems models that are focused on converting "inputs" to "outputs."
Task Theories/Task Analysis: A Variety of Concrete Methods for Deriving Task and Performance Models.
- http://ericacve.org/docs/taskanal.htm
- http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/topics/ergonomics/taskanalysis/taskanalysis.htm
- http://www.psych.upenn.edu/~saul/a+p.xx.pdf
Risk Analysis and Systems Analysis methods based on the concept of risk. Although usually applied in a safety context, "demand" is a type of risk. How might use risk analyses be used to represent demand for services? How does this view differ from through-put analysis?
Root Cause Analysis Methods of attributing causation to sequential processes within systems. Root causes are best candidates for interventions.
Cognitive/Behavioral Science Methods
Performance Theories/Behavior Analysis: Behavior analysis and behavioral task analysis focus on motivational factors (stimuli, reinforcement, etc) in system processes.
- http://www-ee.uta.edu/hpi/PAGES/gspt_main.html
- http://www.coedu.usf.edu/behavior/bares.htm
- http://www.saem.org/download/01militello.pdf
Knowledge Engineering/Knowledge Acquisition: Knowledge engineering and acquisition methods seek to understand the basis of decision-making within system processes. This might include motivational and factual components.
- http://pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~kremer/courses/CG/CGlecture_notes.html
- http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usacsl/divisions/std/branches/keg/keg.htm
Means-Ends Analysis: Means-ends analysis may be used as a tool to map out system sub-goals, or as a weak problem solving method.
Social Cognitive Theory seeks to understand system processes as part of a social context. This is useful for mapping out goals and relationships among persons who are active participants in multiple systems; also useful for understanding conflicting goals.
Pajares (2002). Overview of social cognitive theory and of self-efficacy. http://www.emory.edu/EDUCATION/mfp/eff.html
Management Science/Operations Research Methods: Cost Effectiveness Analysis is a diagnostic measurement approach that considers resource utilization. Effectiveness may include estimates of the "utility" or value of outcomes.
Technical Efficiency Analysis: A diagnostic measurement approach that considers resource utilization, but allows each observation point to optimize different criteria. For example, some clinics may produce shorter wait times given the number of patients they see, while other clinics might complete more procedures annually given their patients’ multiple comorbidities. This helps identify different strategies of approximating "best practice," when there are multiple system inputs and outputs, as well as scaling relative efficiency of observational units.