Case study 1: Assessing the process for entrepreneurial development

Problem:  Identifying effective programs and challenges for strategic planning and funding

Solutions: Impact and process analysis

Process:

We worked with the executive director of a non-profit business development center to identify the challenges and needs of the center’s clients.  The custom designed survey instrument was sent to all the center’s clients as well as the advisory board.  The survey was conducted anonymously and data was collated and analyzed.  The study helped the center director and advisory board to identify effective programs, the needs of its clients as well as the challenges faced by its clients in contracting.  This study serves as a baseline for strategic planning and for future funding for the center.

Case study 3: Identifying priorities and strategies for Public Health Advocacy & Capacity Building

Problem: No coordinated strategic priorities identified

Solution: Strategic priority setting

We worked with the board of a non-profit health advocacy group to identify strategic priorities for capacity building and advocacy.  We facilitated a strategic prioritization process with board members to help them identify priorities for funding purposes.  Using these identified priorities we assisted the Board president in developing the grant proposal.  A grant of $70, 000 was received by the organization as a result of our assistance.

Case study 4: Improving the effectiveness of an organization through a process evaluation

Problem:  Progressive loss in program funding; unknown external perceptions of the organization’s importance to the community and staff morale issues

Solution: process evaluation to understand the organizational dynamics, strengths and challenges

Process:

We worked with the staff, internal and external stakeholders, and the management of a publicly funded human services organization to help them understand what process related factors were responsible for the issues identified by management.

The results of the process evaluation showed that the loss of funding was leading to a non-competitive salary structure which in turn resulted in high staff turnover; lack of trust in the effectiveness of the management structure and the lack of a strategic communication plan translated into major budgetary constraints for the organization.

Our evidence-based, custom designed survey instrument developed to conduct the process evaluation assisted our client to identify challenges in the service delivery process and to develop customized targeted solutions.  Strategies that were identified included alternative more sustainable sources of funding, mechanisms to improve public perception and importance of the organization to all county residents.  Additional strategies were identified to enhance the management of the organization, to improve its service delivery and to obtain sustainable financing.

Case study 5: Developing national priorities for essential national health research

Problem: Limited fiscal and human resources for conducting national health research

Solution: Prioritization of the National Health Research agenda

Process:

For this project we worked with 5000 researchers and their 12 affiliated institutions over a two year period.  Through this process we marketed an international research prioritization program, identified the national priorities for health research and developed a prioritization process. Through intensive public consultation we obtained a list of national health research priorities which was used for funding by the country government as well as international agencies.

Case study 6: Cost savings of Health Promotion Programs

Problem: Unknown outcome and impact of health promotion programs

Solution:  Identification of appropriate indicators and cost aversion analysis

Process:

We worked with the program staff of a statewide health promotion program and trained them to identify appropriate indicators of effective health promotion programs.   Using evidence based literature review; we developed a generic method for determining cost aversion of health promotion programs. This data was used to lobby members of Congress to prevent cuts in the Federal Preventive Block Grant funding to States.

Case study 7: Assessment of Board process & effectiveness

Problem: The process and outcomes of gubernatorial Boards was unknown

Solution: Process evaluation to determine effective processes that impact on outcome

Process:

Working with program staff and the members of three Boards we developed a process evaluation instrument to help identify the effectiveness of the board decision making and outcomes.  This helps the program staff and other stakeholders to identify best practice for Board functioning and also assisted them to determine the best fit for future board appointments.

Case study 8: Assessment of Emergency Services Deployment process

Problem: Unknown challenges for emergency service staff in a natural disaster deployment

Solution: Process evaluation of the deployment and needs assessment of staff

Process:

At the request of the Head of Planning and the director for emergency services of a publicly funded organization, we developed a custom designed instrument to conduct a process evaluation of the deployment of emergency personnel to a natural disaster area. Survey instruments were sent to the deployed personnel and the data that was obtained provided information on process challenges facing personnel deployed to areas of natural disasters.  This study assisted the agency to develop contingency plans for future deployment s well as to identify the needs of deployed personnel and their families.