Key Driver Diagram // A Tool to Organize, Communicate and Enhance Improvement Work

Key Driver Diagram is a profound way to organize our theory and align all improvement activities. A KDD shows the connection between our goal and specific improvement activities. It’s a visual display of a team’s theory on what “drives” or contributes to the project aim. It also serves as a communication tool to a wide range of stakeholders on what the team has tested, plans to work on, and has completed.

A Key driver diagram has multiple components:
•“WHY is this work important and why should I care?” – this is our global aim
•Then we have the SMART aim, “What is the specific and measurable goal of the project?” How will we know that we are improving?
•“What is the focused area of the project?”
•“WHAT are the essential components or drivers that will help us achieve the SMART aim?”. What factors influence our SMART aim.
•And then we have the actionable interventions and ideas that we will test and implement to address these drivers. This is “HOW” we get there.

UC Improvement Academy is made for anyone interested in developing skills to improve healthcare systems in any capacity. Our content is created by improvement science experts at University of Cincinnati and UC Health. Learn skills to successfully drive improvement and develop the necessary skills among your team members. Lead the CHANGE!