What is a "driver diagram"?

A driver diagram is a visual representation that helps teams clarify their understanding of the relationships between the overarching aims, the key components necessary to achieve those aims, and the specific changes or interventions they plan to implement in their Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives. This tool is essential in QI work as it helps to organize thoughts and align efforts towards a common goal.

By laying out the main aim at the top, followed by primary and secondary drivers that contribute to achieving that aim, teams can better visualize how their specific actions will lead to improvement. This promotes clarity and focuses the team's efforts on the most influential areas for change.

In contrast, options that suggest predicting financial outcomes, assessing staff performance, or tracking patient complaints do not align with the primary function of a driver diagram, which is centered around the planning and understanding of change processes in quality improvement initiatives. These other tools and methods serve different purposes and are not designed primarily to illustrate relationships and frameworks in QI work.