Independent Variable is a consulting service that uses technology, design, and performance management principles to help nonprofit and public sector entities reimagine more equitable and effective service delivery models.
There are two forthcoming projects which may be utilized for a student capstone. The exact capstone and deliverables can be tailored to student interests.
In the first, an Independent Variable software solution may be utilized as a central tenet in the formation of a continuum of practice collaborative between 2-3 juvenile justice stakeholders across the country to help galvanize cross-municipality juvenile justice reform.
In the second, Independent Variable will begin an engagement with a statewide juvenile justice system in training all stakeholders on a series of innovation and performance management tools, and overseeing a statewide "juvenile justice innovation challenge."
Either initiative may lend itself to a capstone project.
The first initiative will allow for work related to the recruiting and onboarding of multiple stakeholders from around the country into a joint collaborative centered on juvenile justice reform. This will entail creating exercises and documentation related to shared values and governance, defining shared goals and a joint mission, and helping to coordinate data and technology sharing agreements, practices, and lessons for policy impact. Deliverables may include the creation of real-world policies and documentation related to any of the above fields. For those with experience or interest in software development, this initiative may also lend itself to direct participation in software development and implementation processes.
The second project will entail work related to the rollout of a statewide training exercise in innovation and performance management principles, as well as the coordination and evaluation of a statewide "juvenile justice innovation challenge." Deliverables may include the creation of performance management and innovation training materials, a large scale training implementation plan, and the coordination, documentation, and evaluation of a cross-municipality innovation challenge.
