Guiding Questions

Answers

Action Notes

1. Define the problem

If you are reading about an issue, what words represent the key ideas?

What are possible core problems or needs that are fueling the issue?

What is your definitive statement of the problem you’ve chosen?

2. Identify the Stakeholders

Who are the stakeholders?

As it relates to the problem, what is the interest of each stakeholder in a few words?

3. Understand the context of the problem

What is currently being written about the problem? (current literature)

What has been tried in the past? (history)

What, if any, is your organization’s formal position about the problem? (political inertia)**

4. Gather the evidence (information)

What statistics are relevant?

What quotes, cases or stories are relevant?**

What are the trends related to this problem?

What are examples of best practices related to this problem?

5. Construct alternatives (possibilities)

What is the first approach with action plans?

What is the second approach with action plans?

What is the third approach with action plans?

6. Calculate costs for each alternative

What budget is projected for each approach?**

What personnel or in kind costs are projected for each?**

7. Project the outcomes (vision)

What is the intended outcome for each alternative?

What are the unintended consequence(s) of each alternative?**

8. Gather and neutralize (manage)

Who might be collaborators/allies and why?**

What is your plan for developing partnerships and alliances?**

Who might resist and why?**

What is your plan for neutralizing the effects of those who oppose the plan?**

9. Choose your best alternative (criteria)

Which of your plans above do you think is the best approach?

10. Tell the story (presentation)

Either a brief narrative that summarizes much of the above or a description of how you would structure your presentation to the board of education.