PLANNED CHANGE PROJECT (50% of final grade)

First Draft Due and circulated to each member of class via email, depending on presentation date:  4/11 if presenting on 4/14;  4/18 if presenting on 4/21; or 4/25 if presenting on 4/28.

Final Draft Due: no later than 05/5    Length limit:  10 – 12 pages, double spaced plus references, appendices, executive summary, press release and one page memo transmitting the paper

This assignment asks you to apply the rational problem solving model to facilitate planned change in an agency, community or policy setting.  Ideally, this will be something you can connect to your field placement or work setting or to an agency or political cause that you have familiarity with. In other words, this assignment asks that you apply the problem-solving process to a macro system with a focus on designing and implementing an intervention to bring about change in the interest of a client system.

You may discuss a change that is underway, about to be started or one you would like to see initiated.  If the change is underway, I would like you to analyze the portion of the planned change process that is underway and discuss what else needs to be done to complete the process.  If this is an imaginary change or a change you are considering initiating, then describe what needs to be done in each of the stages.

You will circulate the first draft of your paper via email to each member of the class at least 3 days in advance of your scheduled 5 minute presentation: 4/11 if presenting on 4/14;  4/18 if presenting on 4/21; or 4/25 if presenting on 4/28.

You will receive feedback, oral and written, from the instructor and members of the class.  The revised final paper will be due no later than May 5.

RECOMMENDED FORMAT:

Executive Summary (1 page)

Brief Introduction: The Setting, Problem, Client System (half- page) –  Briefly describe the agency, community or political setting;  the reason for initiating a planned change process; and the client system that will benefit from the proposed change.  Describe the field or other experiences that led to the identification of this problem, and provide information from the agency or local community justifying the need to intervene (i.e., what is the prevalence of the problem, and the consequences of the problem on a local level?).  Who is the client system?  What is the planned change approach, and the desired and likely outcomes.

More Detailed Assessment of the Problem and Proposed Solution (3 pages) — First, provide an analysis of the scope and characteristics of the problem as defined both by relevant systems and stakeholders, and then as you yourself see it.  Provide at least two plausible explanations of the cause and/or maintenance of the problem. Next, state the goal(s) and objectives to be accomplished. Describe how you would (or did) identify and assess alternatives  Access a minimum of four research articles (plus other relevant material) that help you to understand and explain the scope of the problem (its prevalence, cause, maintenance, and consequences) so as to further support and justify intervention efforts. In other words, make a good case for the proposed intervention.

Readiness for Change (1 pages)  Assess the relevant systems’ readiness for change in relation to the problem. In other words, identify the systemic opportunities (strengths) and barriers. Describe at least one major barrier or opposition to change that you anticipate and describe how you plan to manage it. Similarly, describe at least one source of strength or support that you have identified, and describe how you plan to utilize it.

Description of Intervention (3 pages)  Next, describe how you are implementing your intervention.  Who initiated the change? What is the client system (i.e., the individual, group, organization or community that will benefit from your intervention)?  The target system (i.e., the system you need to influence); the change agent/ action system s (i.e., persons or organizations giving leadership to the effort)  (i.e., the people who are working together to bring about change)?  Describe how you would go (or did go) about establishing working relationships with the client system, the target system, and the action system. What factors did you take (or will take) into consideration to establish a plan of action — e.g., risks and potential benefits to the client, the agency and you;  perspectives of key people/units of the agency (or other macro setting);  and likelihood of success;  as well as your strategic goals, objectives, tasks, tactics and targets.  How did/will you build initial support for the proposed changes?  Who are your allies? Opposition?  Who’s neutral?  What strategies have been/will be used to reduce opposition and increase support.  What are/will be the main goal(s), objectives and action steps?

When discussing your role(s) and activities, discuss the skills you have used and actions of relevant systems in this change effort.  Then, illustrate how you managed an important barrier or how you utilized a specific support by providing short selections of dialogue from your interactions with your supervisor or others involved in the decision-making process for your proposed change. In planning and delineating your intervention strategy in this section, use at least three more research articles that help you understand intervention efforts that have been tried elsewhere with successful outcomes in similar circumstances.

Evaluation and Self-Reflection (1 pages) -  First, describe how you are measuring (or plan to measure) the accomplishment of goals.  Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the measurement method(s) you have selected.  Next, evaluate your progress on the intervention to date.  Have you made any mistakes?    Are there any unanticipated outcomes?  Conclude by discussing what you learned from this assignment?  Have you acquired or sharpened one or two skills in the process of intervening at the macro level?  How do you anticipate incorporating into your practice the knowledge and skills acquired in this assignment?

References

Appendices
Press Release
Talking Points