Outcomes based commissioning: A framework for local decision making
This local decision-making framework aims to empower systems as they look to design new contracting approaches aimed at improving outcomes.

Midlands Population Health Management Academy
The Midlands Population Health Management Academy was part of a programme of support, commissioned by NHS

How will we know if Integrated Care Systems reduce demand for urgent care?
The implications of a blended payment system are far reaching: Decisions about planned activity levels will determine the total funding envelope for urgent care within a system and will influence the behaviour of healthcare providers and the services they deliver to patients.
Opening the ‘black box’ of scenario planning through realist synthesis
Scenario planning is recognised as an effective aid to strategic planning in complex, uncertain conditions. It is an approach that the Strategy Unit is increasingly building into its work with health and care systems and third sector organisations.
Measuring what matters in systems – A call for person-centred intelligence
The Strategy Unit and Ipsos MORI launch guide to implementing Person-Centred Intelligence.
Lessons, Evaluation and Learning from the Dudley MCP
Learning from Dudley MCP
Learning and Development of Problem Solving Techniques
What is innovation?

Clinical Workforce Scenarios for the Black Country
The future is highly uncertain.

Let’s face the music and (not) dance
David Frith leads our strategy consultancy work with NHS and third sector organisations.

Tools & templates: Problem structuring
Problem trees and driver diagrams can help you to understand the causes and effects of your problem.
Knowledge sharing
Knowledge sharing is vital for sharing good practice, enabling adoption and spread of innovations, and preventing people from making the same mista
The Potential Economic Impact of Virtual Outpatient Appointments in the West Midlands: A scoping study
The Strategy Unit was recently approached to examine the case for a shift from traditional outpatient services to the use of virtual a
Pre-mortem
The pre-mortem technique was developed by Klein (2007) using ‘prospective hindsight’ to identify risks at the outset of a project.

Tools & templates: Other points of view
Use Edward deBono’s ‘Six Thinking Hats’ or consider a wider point of view, to approach a problem or potential solution from different perspectives.
Lessons from the Vanguard: Procurement
Evaluation of the Dudley New Care Models Programme
This is the final system-wide report from the evaluation.

Tools & templates: Breaking the rules
Generate new ideas to solve a problem – by identifying the underlying assumptions, unwritten rules and thinking that maintain the status quo.

Tools & Templates: Five Whys
Keep asking ‘why’ to peel back the layers of your problem, until you identify a potential root cause.
Risk and Reward Sharing for NHS Integrated Care Systems
Risk and reward sharing is a simple and attractive concept, offering a commissioner the opportunity to co-opt and incentivise a provid

Do you like to integrate horizontally or vertically? NHS positions examined
Our latest research paper explores the impact of the different options for integration implemented as a result of the Transforming Community Services policy in 2010. This accompanying commentary reflects on potential implications for the current policy drive towards Integrated Care Systems.