System-Wide Review Decision Tool

This tool has been developed to find the best way to explore specific questions or topics relating to a defined area of the NIHR CRN portfolio of studies.  It will guide you through a short series of interactive decision steps, to aid the identification of the most appropriate approach to utilise; System-Wide Review* being one of the outcome routes through the tool.

*previously known as ‘Strategic Portfolio Oversight’.

Completion of the Tool

Please complete this tool if you have a question or topic that you would like to be considered as a focus for System-Wide Review, to identify if this is the appropriate approach to explore this, or if another route may be more appropriate to help with your request.  The interactive tool will walk you through a series of questions, and once you have completed the tool you will receive an email detailing the route that has been recommended based on the answers you have given (along with guidance regarding the next steps to be taken in order to progress activities).

There are four outcome routes that can be recommended through the tool; most of the routes follow business as usual performance monitoring and portfolio oversight activities currently undertaken across the NIHR CRN (through the Performance Review Lead role, or via the National Specialty / sub-Specialty Groups), with the fourth being System-Wide Review.  Further information regarding each of these routes can be found here. 

What is System-Wide Review?

As an approach, System-Wide Review has evolved to facilitate cross-Specialty, cross-setting, cross-boundary and cross-stakeholder support for portfolio oversight.  In essence, it is a strategic review of a defined area of the portfolio, for example across a setting, study design, phase, disease(s) or clinical area(s). 

Please note: this tool is the mechanism for identifying and capturing areas of focus for potential System-Wide Review activities.  If it has already been agreed through another forum that your question or topic can be best addressed through a business as usual route (for example, via a National Specialty / sub-Specialty Group ‘For Further Focus’ session) then you do not need to complete the tool in order to reflect this - these sessions and pieces of work will be captured in other ways, elsewhere.

If you experience any problems with using this tool, or have any questions regarding the use of System-Wide Review as an approach to support portfolio oversight, then please contact the NIHR CRN Research Delivery Leads (via: divisional-portfolio-leads@nihr.ac.uk).