Developing a methodology for establishing a statement of work for a policy-relevant technical analysis

Matchar DB, Patwardhan M, Sarria-Santamera A, Westermann-Clark EV
Record ID 32006000148
English
Authors' objectives:

The Duke Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) initiated a project designed to improve the process of generating reports that synthesize and evaluate the scientific literature on topics of particular interest to health care policymakers, clinicians, and other decisionmakers. The project focused on two improvement opportunities: process efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction. We organized the analysis around the concept of a "statement of work (SOW)." As a contractual document, the SOW is the tangible manifestation of the objectives of each EPC project, serving as a foundation for interaction between involved parties, including technical details such as budget, timeline, and deliverables. The aim of this review was to identify potential solutions to the core constraints identified by the study

Authors' recommendations: The analysis identified several problems that ultimately result in a report not meeting the partner's needs, and therefore not being used. The most significant problem - i.e. the core constraint (the most important target for improvement) - identified was that the partner does not know how to conceptualize and articulate needs, objectives, and specifications. Several major potential change strategies for this core constraint were then explored. Two change strategies: establish an ongoing relationship between partners, EPC, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) early in the process, and utilize a changes clause were deemed to be the most practical means to exert impact on the SOW process by addressing this core constraint. In the final step, a Future Reality Tree was constructed representing an illustration of the impact of the proposed solutions on the EPC's SOW process.
Authors' methods: Review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/stateworktp.htm
Year Published: 2006
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: United States
MeSH Terms
  • Decision Making, Organizational
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
Contact
Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;
Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov
Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov
Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.