Assignment: Innovation Analysis Assessment: Innovation Analysis Length: 2,500 words maximum (Not including appendices, figures, tables or bibliography) Identify one innovation in human service delivery in Australia or one overseas country and critically examine its characteristics, the logic for its introduction, and its current or potential contribution to policy. The review should also discuss links between the development of the innovation and broader processes of social, demographic and political change. The review should be with reference to an innovation that relates to one or several of the following fields of human services: aged care; disability services; mental health; child protection; child care; health care; or supported accommodation. Some examples of the innovations that could be considered include: case management innovations; consumer-directed care; service contracting arrangements; improvements in service coordination; or innovative servicing arrangements for a particular client group. More detailed guidelines for undertaking this assignment are provided below. II) Purpose of a critical analysis report The critical analysis report is a writing task that requires you to summarise and evaluate a human service innovation. You will be required to summarise and evaluate one recent innovation in human service delivery in Australia or one overseas country. Examples of such innovations include case management; consumer-directed care; e-delivery of human services, service-contracting arrangements; improvements in the coordination of services; or the development of innovative servicing arrangements for a particular client group You are to review the innovation and also read other related texts so that you can present a fair and reasonable evaluation of the innovation. This should include use of academic literature to assist in your analysis. III) What you will be required to provide The following provides a structure that you may find helpful in undertaking your critical analysis. However these are guidelines only and should not be read as rigid criteria for how you should structure your assessment. You may have good reason to deviate from this structure. However the essential points that you should cover are set out below a) Introduction Introduce the innovation. Present the aim of your critical review, its key components and summarise the main finding or key arguments that you will present. Conclude the introduction with a brief statement of your evaluation of the innovation. This can be a positive or negative evaluation or, as is usually the case, one that assesses both the weaknesses and strengths of the innovation. b) Overview In this section present a summary of the key elements of the innovation along with a limited number of examples. This should include: Comprehensive coverage of its key characteristics (what is it?) Assessment of the logic for its introduction (rationale and context for the innovation) How it is being implemented (where is it being used) You are encouraged to use data on the use of the innovation in this section, or example innovation usage in specific sectors; or data related to innovation expenditure (such as budgetary data), where this is relevant. c) Critique The critique should be a balanced discussion and evaluation of the strengths, weakness and notable features of the service innovation. This should involve a critical evaluation of specific criteria relating to the innovation. It is an expectation that you utilise academic scholarship to support your evaluation. Critique does not necessarily mean to criticise in a negative manner. Rather it requires you to evaluate the merits of the innovation. To aid you in doing this you should read related academic texts about the innovation. Evaluation goes beyond summarising or being descriptive about the content of the innovation, but also involves analysing its purpose and intent. This should include evaluating: The innovations current or potential contribution to policy and/or service provision (is it working); Analysis of the politics that lie behind the introduction of the innovation; Links between the service innovation and processes of social, demographic and political change (for example does it reflect any ideological or philosophical changes, or attempts to address certain demographic needs). In terms of how you structure your critique, consider the following: It is important to consider both the positive and negative elements of the service innovation. You could begin by stating what is positive and then describe that this is moderated because of specific limitations, which you discuss. If there are both strengths and weakness for each criterion you use, you need to provide an overall judgement of the relative merit of the innovation. d) Conclusion This is usually a short paragraph that restates your overall opinion of the innovation and discusses any implications that you want to draw attention to from your critical analysis. Note: An example of Critical Review will be uploaded as a support document, it is not related to this assignment. IV) Marking Criteria The assessment will be marked on the basis of the following criteria. The extent to which the key characteristics of the service innovation are systematically described, including how the innovation is being used. The extent to which the rationale for the introduction of the innovation have been assessed. The extent to which the politics of the innovation have been critically evaluated. An analysis of whether the innovation is responding to demographic shifts, social or political change or broader trends in the delivery of human services. A critical evaluation of the innovations contribution to policy and/or service provision. Demonstration of an adequate use of evidence, including the use of relevant data and academic literature Inclusion of an appropriate reference list.
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