Transformation Project: Group Model Building Sessions

 

Principal Investigator:  Peter Hovmand, PhD
Funder:  Missouri Department of Mental Health, sub-contract to their SAMSAHA Transformation grant.
Timeframe: Funded 12/06-08/07
Affiliation: Center for Mental Health Services Research (CMHSR)

Project Staff:  Ingrid Flom, MSW
                        David Martineau, PhD Candidate
                        Victoria Osborne, PhD Candidate

                       
Project Contact:   Peter Hovmand, PhD, PI
                              Phone:  (314) 935-6685 
                              phovmand@wustl.edu

                             
Project Update as of 09/23/2009:
Stage: Completed

Description:

Any major transformation of organizations or service system requires developing a shared understanding of the problem and its underlying causes. This can be difficult as stakeholders are challenged to see the larger whole. Group model building is a formal approach to mapping the causal structure of a problem. With origins in system dynamics, group model building uses both qualitative and quantitative modeling techniques. The outcomes of group modeling include increased awareness of the complexity surrounding a problem, a shared language for discussing the problem and finding potential solutions, group consensus, and increased motivation for implementing solutions.

This is a proposal for conducting group model building sessions as part of the initial workgroup meetings for the Missouri Department of Mental Health Transformation Project. The overall purpose of the group model building sessions is to 1) introduce members to each other’s perspectives of the mental health system, 2) increase awareness of the dynamic complexity involved with transforming the mental health system in Missouri, and 3) develop a shared mental model within each workgroup for analyzing and recommending changes. This proposal describes the scope of work, timeline, confidentiality and intellectual property rights, and budget for conducting 5 group model building sessions with the option of an additional 5 follow-up sessions.

Scope of Work: The group model building (GMB) sessions will use qualitative system dynamics to help introduce workgroup members to the complexity of challenges with developing recommendations for the Transformation Project. The modeling exercise will yield a causal loop diagram that can be distributed to participants along with a narrative of the analysis submitted to Missouri DMH. The specific activities involved in preparation for the exercise, preparation of the causal loop diagram, and narrative include:

• Reviewing documents and constructing preliminary models in preparation for group model building sessions.

• Co-facilitating 5 ninety minute group model building session as part the three-hour workgroup meetings (March 6, 7, and 8) with an option for a second set of five follow-up 45-minute sessions. These sessions will be co-facilitated with Transformation Project consultants. Research assistants will serve as recorders during the session.

• Preparing 5 causal loop diagrams as posters (48” by 36” black-and-white) and PDF electronic format, one for each workgroup.

• Preparing a report summarizing and analyzing the 5 causal loop diagrams from group model building sessions.