The team will then compile its final summary of the project and present it to the leadership group that chartered it. Endorsement of the recommended changes will occur at this level with support and leadership provided for the process changes. Final approval of process change recommendations will rest with the Executive Director or senior leadership of the program.

Important questions to be answered in this step include:

1. What is the process improvement to be addressed?
2. What steps in the process will be changed?
3. Are there any risks associated with the change?
4. What will the change cost (money, time, resources [people and materials])?
5. Who will be affected by the change?
6. Who is the process owner? Is he or she participating in the improvement planning process?
7. Who will be accountable for implementing the process change?
8. What is to be done to implement the process change?
9. Where will the change be implemented (single unit or enterprise-wide)? Is a pilot test necessary prior to system-wide implementation?
10. How will the implementation be controlled?
11. At what steps will measurements be taken to monitor the effectiveness of the change?
12. How will data be collected and by whom?
13. What data must be collected to measure the improvement?

QI Tools that can be used during this process improvement step include:

• Brainstorming
• Cause-and-Effect Diagram
• Flowchart