Reference no: EM133543177
Homework: Program Critique
Overview
You will complete five program critique homeworks in the course to support your work as you prepare for your final project. These homeworks ask that you critique a program described within an identified article located in the module's resources. These articles were chosen because they relate to the module's topics and demonstrate some common problems that programs encounter. In each homework, you will have the opportunity to critique certain program components, such as resources, activities, and outcome measures, use of feedback loops, assumptions, and external barriers. Once planners have identified the details for each of the program components, they must step back and assess how those components can best operate within the program's environment. That involves considering concepts such as cultural competency, systems thinking, ethical practice, and others. You will focus on these different concepts, in turn, through the program critiques. As you develop your program critique skills, you will be asked to identify areas that could be or need to be improved and offer recommendations.
In this homework, you will critique a health or healthcare program using the program critique reading in the Resources section of this module. The reading portrays example program decision-making relevant to module content. The selected program critique reading is the required reading for this homework.
This homework will help you predict the importance of a system-thinking approach in program planning. It will help you consider how to construct your program planning team. This activity will also help you understand the role of adequate communication when developing a program plan, design, and evaluation.
Findings from this homework will help you analyze and improve your program's team development and communication aspects.
Prompt
Write a program critique that examines a health or healthcare program intended to meet a specific health need.
Specifically, you must address the following criteria:
I. Systems Thinking: Explain how the program considers a systems-thinking approach in program planning. Consider the following questions to guide your response:
1. What role does systems thinking play in making program planning more adaptive, transparent, and evidence based?
2. How does systems thinking help with team development and communication?
II. Stakeholders' and Team Members' Roles: Analyze the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and team members in the program's planning. Consider the following questions to guide your response:
1. How did the inclusion of stakeholders help minimize the risks associated with the program?
2. What would you change in the given program's team-building efforts to make it more collaborative?
III. Communication Tools and Techniques: Determine whether the program's activities and resources use adequate communication tools and techniques to achieve the desired outcomes.
Consider the following questions to guide your response:
1. How did ineffective communication negatively impact the given program and its stakeholders?
2. What would you change to improve the communication with the stakeholders?
IV. Summary and Recommendations: Summarize your findings from the program analysis, and share at least two recommendations about the appropriate use of systems thinking and inclusion of stakeholders in program planning. Consider the following question to guide your response:
1. How would you use systems thinking to plan the activities for the given program differently?