Positive deviance: learning from positive anomalies

Abstract

Purpose This paper is one of seven in this volume, each elaborating different approaches to quality improvement in education. The purpose of this paper is to delineate a methodology called positive deviance. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents the origins, theoretical foundations, core principles and a case study demonstrating an application of positive deviance in US education, specifically dealing with the problem of high school dropout prevention in a California school district. Findings The six phases of this “asset-based” improvement approach are: define the organizational or community problem and desired outcomes; determine common practices relevant to the problem; discover uncommon but successful behaviors and strategies that solve the problem (the positive deviants), through inquiry and observation; design an action learning initiative based on findings; discern (monitor) progress of the initiative by documenting and evaluating regularly; and disseminate results through sharing, honoring and amplifying success stories. Originality/value Few theoretical treatments and demonstration cases are currently available on commonly used models of quality improvement from business, manufacturing and other fields that have potential value in improving education systems internationally. This paper fills this gap by elucidating one promising approach. By facilitating a comparison of the positive deviance approach to other quality improvement approaches treated in this volume, the paper provides added value.

Reflections on Future Directions for Including Students with Severe Disabilities

“…Among these methods, the use of a positive deviance approach shows much promise in the near future in addressing the need to understand, develop, sustain, and scale up effective inclusive programs for students with severe disabilities. This approach has been successfully used in the United States and other countries to address intractable social problems such as endemic malnutrition, neonatal and maternal mortality, and hospital-acquired infections, and in education settings to address challenges such as school dropouts and low college graduation rates (LeMahieu et al, 2017; Singhal, 2013).…”

“…Positive deviance is built upon the idea that the most efficient way to improve organizations is to use effective approaches that are developed locally and are sustainable (Marsh et al, 2004). This method has been described as a systematic approach to determining who has developed a way to successfully address a persistent issue; identifying what was done in this setting to solve the problem; and determining how to spread this knowledge and change in practice to others (LeMahieu et al, 2017; Pascale et al, 2010). Given that these solutions are devised by those facing an intractable problem in a natural setting, “they tend to be more readily accepted and feasible within existing resources, thus increasing the likelihood of success and, potentially, of adoption elsewhere” (Lawton et al, 2014, p. 881).…”

Using Positive Organizational Scholarship in Healthcare and Video Reflexive Ethnography to Examine Positive Deviance to New Public Management in Healthcare

“…Third, given that positive deviance exists devoid of a superimposed intervention, it is likely to be sustainable—this is particularly important given limited resources within public health services to sustain change. Fourth, in this era of reform fatigue, a focus on “bright spots” (LeMahieu, Nordstrum, & Gale, 2017, p. 110) is likely to motivate organizational actors, be they managers, clinicians, or patients. Although these reasons cannot be explored in the context of this article, they collectively suggest that positive deviance is worth examining.…”

Effective Leadership in Online Small Businesses: An Exploratory Case Study

“…The PD approach is used to identify positively deviant leaders who have succeeded in online small business against the 90% failure odds, and this approach was used in this study as a means of forming interview questions for online small business leaders. Questions surrounding exploration of successful behaviors, strategies, and techniques of online small business leaders probed how they are successful, how they overcome barriers and challenges, what specific steps they take to accomplish goals and objectives, and if they are aware of others using their successful strategies (Heringon & van de Fliert, 2018;LeMahieu, Nordstrum, & Gale, 2017;Sternin, 2017).…”