When to spread, context and adopters

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This page aims to help you understand the context and adopters necessary to spread. 

When to spread

Spread normally takes place once a change idea, or series of change ideas have been tested, implemented and sustained in a specific context. 

It may be that a particular change idea has been tested and successfully implemented by a team in an organisation and you now want to spread it to other teams, or it might be that an entire organisation has tested and implemented an improvement and you now want to spread it to other organisations.

Successful spread involves developing a spread plan and a spread aim to measure and evaluate progress.  Using the “Readiness for Spread” checklist and following the steps outlined below will help you to do this.

Context and adopters

Two of the most important factors you need to consider for successful spread are context and adopters.  Context is explored in more detail in the Five questions to help you spread improvement section.

Adopters are individuals, teams or organisations who show they are interested or ready for the change you want to spread.  It is always a good idea to spread to the most receptive contexts first rather than going to the most difficult.  Identifying and nurturing your potential adopters is critical to the success of spreading improvement.  To help you make your change as attractive as possible and to identify potential adopters, you can use the “Adoption Attributes” checklist in the tools section of the QI Zone.