We suggest incorporating an equity-oriented SOAR analysis (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results) as a first step in implementing equity-oriented health care. Conducting a brief SOAR analysis will help you and the people working at your practice or organization to collectively anticipate and predict where the areas of disruption will occur in your organization as you seek to equip for equity.
SOAR involves asking the following questions:
- Strengths: What are our greatest strengths?
- Opportunities: What opportunities can we leverage into success?
- Aspirations: What do we want to be and do in the future?
- Results: What are the measurable results that will tell us we’ve achieved our vision?
For each of the key dimensions of equity-oriented health care (TVIC, Cultural Safety, Harm Reduction), there will be anticipated areas of disruption and opportunity. As you work through the SOAR analysis with your organization, try to identify strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results related to each of these dimensions. Identifying and anticipating disruptions can help you to plan strategies to harness those disruptions and use them to further equity in your organization.
For more information, and to integrate the SOAR analysis, please complete Module 7 of the Equipping for Equity Modules: Enhancing Equity by Leveraging Disruption. You can also view the SWOT Analysis Worksheet for a similar tool.
We have put together a simple SOAR worksheet, in PowerPoint format so you can fill it electronically, or print it off to complete it with your team. Click below to download the SOAR Analysis Worksheet:
