Teams working on court reform are often tempted after looking at some data to jump right to a solution, to select a strategy and implement it. But good change management is more measured than that. The next step after identifying the root cause(s) is to articulate how you intend to address the root cause(s) by drafting a theory of change.

Your theory of change should provide a step-by-step chain of logic describing how you think addressing the root cause(s) you’re going to address will result in the desired outcomes. If you use a cause map to conduct the RCA, you can “read” the cause map from right to left, putting each box into the affirmative, and a theory of change will emerge. Sometimes you must tweak the language a bit so that the theory make sense, but the substance of the theory is there in the map.

Try to draft a theory of change based on your causal analysis that takes on a “so that” form. Here’s an example:

Goal: Improved Communication Process Between Parents and Parents’ Attorneys

  • The CIP QLR Committee will develop a strategy to improve the communication process between parents and parents’ attorneys that
  • Ensures the attorney at the Parent’s Counsel office has complete contact information on the parent as early in the case as possible and
  • Reduces the amount of time it takes to secure conflict counsel and
  • Ensures the parent’s attorney attempts to contact the parent within one day of receiving the affidavit so that
  • There is a reduction in the delay of parent’s attorneys contacting their clients so that
  • Parents in a D&N case know who to contact for legal support so that
  • Parents have access to legal support and representation so that
  • Parents feel hopeful, assured, and understand the legal process and their role in it so that
  • Parents want to communicate with their attorney so that
  • There is not a lack of communication between parents and their attorneys so that
  • The parent’s attorneys can better advocate for their client’s interest so that
  • The parent receives zealous legal advocacy from a lawyer that understands their position so that
  • The quality of legal representation for parents improves.