Guest blog by Hiba Qutub, IPP ’24
Reflecting on my journey to enhance and institutionalize fostering services through the PDIA (Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation) framework fills me with a deep sense of discovery, growth, and above all, possibility. I think back to the initial online sessions, the emotions they stirred, and the knowledge—and friendships—that blossomed over the nine days we spent on campus. This program wasn’t about flashy, immediate wins; it was about building lasting change through small, meaningful victories that compound over time. Sometimes it felt like we were making significant strides forward, while other times, it felt like we were taking steps backward. Yet, with each step, we worked toward creating a system as resilient and supportive as the families we serve.
Working with PDIA in the social sector brings a unique set of challenges, as the issues we tackle are deeply woven into systemic, socio-economic, and cultural factors. Social sector organizations face the difficulty of addressing complex problems—such as inequality, public health, and education gaps—that lack clear solutions and evolve continuously. Implementing PDIA requires an iterative approach, which can sometimes clash with the sector’s traditional emphasis on stability, predictability, and accountability. Innovation often demands thinking outside the box and breaking away from established routines.
Many social sector organizations are also tied to extensive regulations, reporting requirements, and bureaucratic processes, especially when they receive government funding. These administrative burdens can slow decision-making and restrict the flexibility needed to adapt quickly to emerging needs. Bureaucratic hurdles may also stifle innovation, forcing organizations to follow rigid protocols and standards that may not fit the realities on the ground.
Yet, PDIA’s problem-solving nature offers a way through this complexity. By emphasizing the importance of building legitimacy and functionality over time—demonstrated through small, measurable successes and genuine stakeholder engagement—PDIA helps organizations gradually win the support needed to overcome resistance to change. This slow but steady accumulation of legitimacy allows social organizations to build credibility, gain buy-in, and establish themselves as trusted problem-solvers within the communities they serve. Through sustained effort and incremental wins, PDIA offers a pathway to solutions that are both legitimate and functional, empowering social sector organizations to address complex issues more effectively and sustainably.
Key Learnings from the PDIA Course
Power of Small Wins
PDIA champions small, incremental victories that may seem modest in isolation but collectively lead to transformative change. Each win felt like adding a brick to a strong foundation, helping us build a sustainable, long-term fostering service. This approach not only built momentum but reinforced our commitment to the larger goal, sustaining our motivation even through the more challenging moments.
Creating Psychological Safety in Teams
One of the most valuable aspects of PDIA was learning how to foster an environment where team members felt safe to share ideas, concerns, and even failures. Building psychological safety encouraged us to explore issues openly, experiment without fear, and pivot when needed. We all contributed freely without the pressure of “getting it right” immediately, which greatly enhanced our adaptive problem-solving approach.
Iterative Process and the Art of Scaling Up
PDIA isn’t about a “one-size-fits-all” solution; it’s a continuous loop of testing, learning, and adapting. We constantly assessed, refined, and scaled what worked. Whether it was reshaping the problem statement or identifying key entry points (which changed multiple times), we learned resilience and honed our problem-solving skills to build a more comprehensive and responsive fostering system.
The Implementation Challenge I Tackled
The core challenge was developing an institutionalized framework for fostering services, unified with policies and policy implementation strategies. Our focus included addressing policy implementation challenges such as enhancing training and support for staff, ensuring that fostering services met the needs of both children and caregivers, and establishing standardized procedures that supported trauma-informed practices on the ground. Here’s what we aimed to address:
Throughout the PDIA process, we identified the key issues that were at the heart of enhancing the fostering services. These issues weren’t isolated; they were deeply interconnected with broader systemic challenges. The core focus was on addressing policy implementation challenges, human resources, operational guidelines, and community perceptions.
Policy Challenges: A significant part of our work involved tackling policy gaps and refining implementation strategies. We worked to align fostering services with existing policies, ensuring that the framework was both unified and responsive to the needs of children and caregivers. This included developing trauma-informed approaches and ensuring consistent practices across the system.
Human Resources: Strengthening human resources was another central focus. We identified the need for enhanced training and continuous support for social workers and staff to ensure they had the skills and tools necessary to provide high-quality fostering services. Our pilot trainings revealed how small improvements in training materials and strategies could significantly boost staff confidence and effectiveness.
Operational Guidelines: Developing standardized operating procedures was crucial to ensure consistency and quality in service delivery. These guidelines not only aimed to streamline processes but also helped ensure that the services were aligned with best practices, particularly in dealing with trauma and providing holistic support for families.
How PDIA Will Shape My Future Problem-Solving Approach
PDIA has fundamentally changed how I approach complex challenges in both my personal and professional life. I now recognize the importance of small steps and adaptability, embracing the messy, non-linear process of addressing root issues. PDIA’s emphasis on small wins, team psychological safety, and iterative learning makes it a perfect framework for the social sector, where each problem demands sensitive, human-centered solutions.
Applying PDIA Knowledge Moving Forward
Insights from PDIA continue to shape our work. Once you adopt this mindset, there’s no turning back. PDIA will remain the foundation of my approach to every complex challenge I encounter.
Words of Wisdom for Fellow PDIA Practitioners
Celebrate the Small Wins. In the world of PDIA, every minor success matters. Embrace each win as a building block toward meaningful change.
Foster Psychological Safety. Encourage your team to share openly. Creating a safe space for discussion and ideas enables collaboration and reveals insights that might otherwise go undiscovered.
Think Big, Start Small. Great change doesn’t happen overnight. Begin with manageable steps, learn from each one, and allow your solutions to grow and adapt with the needs of those you serve.
Lastly, remember while a single Herculean effort can yield impressive results in a short amount of time, often driven by intense focus, determination, and the desire for immediate impact. Small, consistent efforts over time tend to produce more sustainable, higher impact and lasting outcomes. And while a monumental push might solve an urgent problem or achieve a significant milestone, gradual progress allows for ongoing learning, adjustment, and the building of resilience. Over time, incremental efforts compound, often leading to deeper understanding, stronger foundations, and greater long-term success. The key difference lies in the balance between short-term intensity and long-term persistence, with both approaches having their own value depending on the context and goals.
Reflecting on this journey, I feel incredibly grateful for PDIA’s transformative power in guiding our work in fostering services. With each cycle of learning, adapting, and building, we’re shaping a brighter future in our work—one meaningful step at a time.
This is a blog series written by the alumni of the Implementing Public Policy Executive Education Program at the Harvard Kennedy School. 42 Participants successfully completed this 6-month hybrid program in November 2024. These are their learning journey stories.