Decision-Making Tools for your ministry Formed for Justice FORMA Annual Conference 2018

Principles of Social Science Study of human beings Behavior, society, culture, and diversity across time and space Scientific Research: Quantitative, Qualitative Professionalism Ethics Objective, Systematic, and Principled

Social Science and Formation Why do we need it?

The Policy Cycle Agenda-Setting Now What? Formulation Evaluation Adoption Implementation

Agenda Setting Process by which ideas (problems and solutions) gain or lose attention Competition in a finite space Context, limitations, and capacity Power Distribution and Stakeholders Ways in which issues come forward: External: Issue Attention Cycle and Punctuated Equilibrium Internal: Network Theory and Elite Theory Levels of Agendas (Universal, Systemic, Institutional, and Decision)

Agenda Setting in Formation How do ideas come about in your parish? What are the levels of the agendas? Who are your stakeholders? Who has power? What is your context, your limitations, and capacity?

Formulation Developing a plan to address the particular area arising from agenda-setting. Research Developing Alternatives Routine, Analogous, and Creative Projecting Outcomes Strategic Considerations Recommendation

Formulation in Formation The Research and Development Stage Theoretical, Theological, Educational Resource well and Document Current and Creative The Thinking Ahead Stage Objectives, Criteria, and Measurement

Adoption Adoption is the legitimization of the program by decision- making authorities. Elite Majority (more legitimatization) Agreement on the means may be difficult. Problem definition Ideological/Theological Structural

Adoption in Formation Who makes decisions in your congregation? Where do you go to find support for programming? How do you build a coalition of support? Over-coming obstacles: Definitional Structural Theological

Implementation Implementation lies between the idea and the effect. Implementation is action. Implementation is not self-executing. Key factors in adoption: Communication Resources Disposition

Implementation in Formation Two parts: Planning Implementation is the Nuts and Bolts Doing Communication: Consistency and Clarity Resources: Money, time, human (skills), facilities, authority, current structure Dispositions/Attitudes Opposition Incentives

Evaluation Evaluation is the systematic collection of data about a program in order to make decisions about the program itself and it’s component parts. Addressing our fears about evaluation Types: Goal-Based, Process-Based, Outcome-Based Methods: Surveys, Interviews, Observations, Focus Groups, Case Studies , Documentation Review

evaluation in Formation The most important step: Don’t Be Afraid! The planning for this takes place earlier when you are formulating the program Pitfalls to avoid It’s Not Personal Except When It’s Personal Something is Better Than Nothing (20/80 Rule) Perfect is the Enemy of the Good

Now what? In formation Maintenance - program is adopted into the regular scope and sequence Reform - changes are made to the program on a one-time basis Termination - program is removed

Questions? #FORMA18