Urgent need to take action

Urgent need to take action

Social movements in the context of knowledge uptake and sustainability include the key characteristic, ‘Urgent need to take action’  that reflects a push for addressing a shared concern (like reducing falls rates) or strongly desired change (like excellence in care) that is viewed as important to many. In this section, you and your change team will learn how a shared concern is pivotal in a social movement serving as the fuel to act (Grinspun, 2018; Grinspun et al., 2018a).    

What is the key characteristic "Urgent need to take action"? 

This key characteristic involves the recognition by individuals, groups and organizations that change related to the shared concern or strongly desired change must happen and cannot be ignored. There is a readiness to take action; maintaining the status quo is no longer optional (Bate et al., 2004b; Burbidge, 2017; Lippman et al., 2013).

The urgent need to take action can come from a desire to accelerate quality care, promote excellence or improve outcomes for patients/people. Or, sometimes the urgent need to take action results from pressure that builds up and reaches a critical point for a shared concern or strongly desired change. Its speed can vary; it can happen slowly over time, or quickly with a catalytic event that forces action (Bate et al., 2004a; Bate et al., 2004b; Burbidge, 2017; Carson-Stevens et al., 2013; Grinspun et al., 2018a; Lippman et al., 2016; Sustainable Improvement Team & Horizons Team, 2018).

Why is this key characteristic important?

Social movements always drive action. Once people recognize an urgent need for change - one of the preconditions of a social movement - they feel they must take action, and do so together. They engage their internal drive (or intrinsic motivation) and commitment to get started on achieving change through mobilized individual and collective action (Bate et al., 2004a; Bate et al., 2004b; Carson-Stevens et al., 2013; Grinspun et al., 2018a; Sustainable Improvement Team & Horizons Team, 2018).

More about the key characteristic "Urgent need to take action"

Urgent need to take action is…

shared by individuals, groups and organizations

an ability to fix or address complex issues, improve quality or innovate

reflected in the vision or goals of the social movement
  • People feel an urgent need to take action for change.
  • The pressure to take action builds through people’s interactions.
  • The usual approaches to creating change are believed to be too slow and ineffective.
  • New approaches must be used to scale up and speed up change. This gives people a sense of ownership meaning and direction for change.
  • People come together to create a shared purpose and common vision for how change can be achieved and what the impact could be.
  •  There is a commitment to the new vision and a belief that it is worth striving for.

SOURCES: Bate et al., 2004a; Bate et al., 2004b; Bibby et al., 2009; Burbidge, 2017; Campbell, 2020; Carson-Stevens et al., 2013; Davey, 2009; Grinspun et al., 2018a; Kennedy et al., 2019; Lippman et al., 2016; Ruglis & Freudenberg, 2010; Sustainable Improvement Team & Horizons Team, 2018.