- Learn home
- Quality Improvement Zone
- QI Tools
- QI Tools
- Project Charter
- Model for Improvement
- PDSA
- Driver Diagram
- Process Mapping
- Pareto Chart
- Implementation Checklist
- Cause and Effect Diagram
- Capacity Calculator
- Last 10 Patients Data collection tool
- Measurement Plan
- 5 Whys
- Force Field Analysis
- Prioritisation Matrix
- Run Chart
- SPC Charts
- Scatter Plot
- Funnel Plots
- Histogram
- Kahler's Drivers
- Stakeholder Analysis
- Communication and Engagement Plan
- SBAR
- 7 Step Meeting Process
- Action Plan
- Lessons Learned Log
- RACI Matrix
- Gantt Chart
- Team Huddles
- Visual Management Board
QI Tools
The Quality Improvement tools provided here can support you in your improvement work. Each improvement tool is linked to the Improvement Journey which provides a structured process with specific questions to help individuals and teams consider the key aspects of testing and implementing change. If you have any issues with the tools when downloading please contact us at qualityimprovement@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Quality Improvement Tools
Project Charter
A project charter is the statement of scope, objectives and people who are participating in a project.
Model for Improvement
The Model for Improvement is a simple yet powerful tool for accelerating improvement. The model is not meant to replace change models that organizations may already be using, but rather to accelerate improvement.
PDSA
Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles are an ideal quality improvement tool that can be used to test an idea by temporarily trialling a change and assessing its impact.
Driver Diagram
Visually presents a team's theory of how an improvement goal will be achieved.
Process Mapping
Visual representaion of the process.
Pareto Chart
A Pareto Chart is a tool to help you understand your system.
Implementation Checklist
The implementation checklist is a tool that can help you plan your implementation.
Cause and Effect Diagram
Cause & Effect is a diagram-based technique that helps you identify all of the likely causes of the problems you're facing.
Capacity Calculator
A simple tool to understand the capacity of your team members and time spent on tasks.
Last 10 Patients Data collection tool
This tool uses patient information to identify variation in journey times
Measurement Plan
A measurement plan sets out details for each measure proposed for an improvement project.
5 Whys
The 5 Whys is a simple approach to help a team identify underlying reasons for a problem.
Force Field Analysis
Force Field Analysis is a method for listing , discussing, and assessing the various forces for and against a proposed change.
Prioritisation Matrix
A Prioritisation Matrix is a table that lets you rank ideas or projects in order of importance, using pre-defined criteria and weightings.
Measurement Tools
Measurement Plan
A measurement plan sets out details for each measure proposed for an improvement project.
Run Chart
A run chart is a line graph of data plotted over time. By collecting and charting data over time, you can find trends or patterns in the process.
SPC Chart
Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts are simple graphical tools that enable process performance monitoring.
Scatter Plot
A graph in which the values of two variables are plotted along two axes, the pattern of the resulting points revealing any correlation present.
Funnel Plots
A funnel plot is a chart that helps to understand variation within a system.
Histogram
A histogram is a plot that lets you discover, and show, the underlying frequency distribution (shape) of a set of continuous data.
Communication Tools
Kahler's 5 Drivers
Kahler's 5 Drivers assists teams to understand how individuals are ‘driven’ and how to develop mutual understanding and build relationships within the team.
Stakeholder Analysis
Stakeholder Analysis is a way of identifying, prioritising and understanding your stakeholders.
Communication and Engagement Plan
This communication and engagement strategy is designed to support the organisation to reach its objectives and vision. It sets out our approach to communication and engagement.
SBAR
An easy to use, structured form of communication that enables information to be transferred accurately between individuals.
Project Management Tools
7 Step Meeting Process
The 7 Step Meeting Process is a powerful framework for running efficient and effective meetings.
Action Plan
An action plan is a robust plan detailing all the actions required to achieve project goals.
Lessons Learned Log
Lessons Learned Logs are used to capture and share knowledge about what has worked well and what could have been done differently during the planning, management and delivery of an improvement project. They help others learn from the project team’s experience.
Team Huddles
Team huddles are consise way of communicating with your team to proactively manage quality and safety.
Gantt chart
A Gantt chart is a visual timeline of tasks that will help a team to identify what should be done by when.
RACI Matrix
The RACI Matrix is a great tool to allocate responsibility across a team throughout the life of a project.
Visual Management Board
A Visual Management Board is visual aid to show where in a project you are and how it has been progressing.
References and Acknowledgements
The Health Care Data Guide: Learning from Data for Improvement, 2011, Lloyd Provost & Sandy Murray
The Improvement Guide, 2009, Langley et al
Leading Change, 2012, John P Kotter