The Success Case Method

by Brinkerhoff, Robert O.

• ISBN13: 9781576751855
• ISBN10: 1576751856
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-01-12
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

Summary

The Success Case Method (SCM) offers a simple, carefully crafted way of determining how well a new organizational initiative is working. Already shown to be effective in dozens of organizations, SCM is based on five steps: focusing and planning the study; clearly defining what outcomes will be considered "success"; identifying success cases; conducting interviews to learn exactly how success was achieved; and communicating results throughout the organization.

Author Biography

Robert O. Brinkerhoff is a professor at Western Michigan University.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
What is the Success Case Method and How Does it Work?	1	(26)
The Basic SCM Questions	6	(8)
Uses for the Success Case Approach	14	(2)
How the Success Case Method Works	16	(11)
The Success Case Method: Step by Step	27	(20)
The SCM Steps	29	(11)
Where the Steps Came From---The Accidental SCM Study	40	(7)
Focusing and Planning a Success Case Study	47	(28)
Envisioning Success: Creating an Impact Model	75	(22)
The Impact Model	76	(4)
Impact Model: The Beginning or the End?	80	(4)
Creating Impact Models	84	(1)
Some Impact Model Examples	85	(2)
State Family Welfare Agency Model	87	(1)
Impact Model for Pharmaceutical Sales Reps Using Laptops	88	(2)
Impact Model for a Beer Distributor	90	(2)
Impact Model for Home Healthcare Services	92	(1)
A Final Note on Impact Models	93	(4)
Using a Survey to Search for Best and Worst Cases	97	(36)
A High Level Look at the Survey Process	98	(1)
Alternatives to the Formal Survey	99	(2)
The Formal Success Case Survey	101	(16)
Devising a Scoring Scheme	117	(5)
Planning the Success Case Survey	122	(11)
Interviewing and Documenting Success Cases	133	(34)
Step 1: Analyze the Survey Responses to Identify Potential Success Cases	134	(7)
Filling Buckets: The Protocol Conceptual Model	141	(10)
Basic Interview Process	151	(2)
Documenting Success Cases	153	(14)
Communicating Credible and Compelling Results that Tell the Story	167	(24)
The Six Major Success Case Report Conclusions	169	(3)
The Conclusion Types Illustrated	172	(14)
Building Interest in SC Study Findings	186	(5)
Putting the Success Case Method to Work: Strategic Applications	191	(18)
Mining ``Gems'' from a Large And and Mature Program	193	(1)
Salvaging Valuable Parts from a Doomed Program	194	(2)
Employing a ``Rapid Prototyping'' Approach	196	(2)
Improving a Vital Support Program	198	(1)
Providing Exemplary Role Models to Teach and Motivate Others	199	(1)
Marketing an Initiative	200	(2)
Pinpointing the Specific Value of ``Soft'' Interventions	202	(1)
Supporting and Leveraging ``Pioneer'' Experiences	203	(3)
Your Turn	206	(3)
A A Success Case Study Final Report	209	(4)
References	213	(2)
Index	215	(4)
About the Author	219