1. Prioritizing Development Program Development University of Massachusetts at Boston ©2007 William Holmes

2. PRIORITIZING STRATEGIES Needs Assessment Secondary Analysis of Data Brainstorming Near Groups Cause-Effect Diagram Policy Discussions

3. NEEDS ASSESSMENT PRIORITIES Prevalence Ranking Severity Ranking Subjective Ranking A Priori Ranking

4. SECONDARY ANALYSIS PRIORITIES Building on Primary Activities Building on Neglected Activities Looking for Holes in Activities Examining Profiles Examining Relationships

5. BRAINSTORMING PRIORITIES Building on Primary Activities Building on Neglected Activities Looking for Holes in Activities Examining Profiles Examining Relationships

6. NEAR GROUP PRIORITIES Drawing on Diversity Seeking Views of Silent Members Redirecting Group Bullies Iterating Group Opinions Looking for Consensus

7. FISHBONE PRIORITIES Brainstorm Causes of Problem Specifying “Minor Bones” Facilitated Discussion Iterative Deletion of Proximate Causes

8. POLICY DISCUSSIONS Program Liaison Program Manager Support Group Administrative Group

9. FROM PRIORITY TO GOALS Inventory possible goals for priority. Rate goals on clarity, immediacy, and focus. Revise goals to increase clarity, immediacy, and focus. Select only goals highly rated on all three criteria.

10. FROM GOALS TO STRATEGY For each goal selected, brainstorm strategies to achieve goal. Discuss strategy’s timeliness, familiarity, cost, and acceptance. Continue discussion until consensus exists on best strategy for each goal.

11. FROM STRATEGY TO OUTCOMES Brainstorm steps for each strategy. Discuss likely outcomes of each step. Identify outcomes that lead to new step. Connect steps and outcomes. Add new steps that connect a sequence. Discard strategies with unsequenced steps and outcomes.

12. CONSTRUCTING ACTION PLAN Discuss alternative sequence desirability. Select consensus desired sequence. List steps for in Action Plan Table. Discuss persons responsible for each step. Discuss timeframe for each step. Discuss costs and resources for each step. Fill in Action Plan Table.

13. EXERCISE Priority—literacy enrollments down. Construct fishbone diagram. Identify root cause. Specify primary goal. Identify strategies. Try to sequence strategies.