A Balanced Scorecard approach to

Breed Health Improvement

© 2011 Ian J Seath: Version 1

Breed Health Improvement must...

● Be led by the Breed Clubs: effectively,

consistently and with energy

● Be planned, evidence-based and regularly

reviewed

● Actively engage all Breeders

● Be well-communicated to owners and

potential owners

● Be supported by other key stakeholders

● Achieve real and lasting breed health

improvements

© 2011 Ian J Seath

From Leadership to Improvement...

1: Leadership

& Capability

2: Processes for

Planning,

Communicating &

Improving

4: Real Breed

Health

Improvements

3: Engaged &

Supportive

Stakeholders

© 2011 Ian J Seath

From Leadership to Improvement...

LeadPlan

Improve Engage

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Enablers

Results

To improve Breed Health we need...

● Clear objectives

● Measurements to

be able to track

progress

● Appropriate targets

to achieve

● Specific actions to

achieve the

objectives

© 2011 Ian J Seath

What objectives should be in a Breed

Health Improvement Strategy?

Some examples...

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Leadership and Capability:

Objectives

● The Breed Council/Clubs actively drive

continuous Health Improvement

● The Breed Health Coordinator has the right

motivation, knowledge and skills

● A H&W Sub-committee provides additional

capacity and expertise

● Breed-specific Veterinary/Geneticist/

Specialist expertise is used

● Funds are raised to support Health

Improvement

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Processes for Planning, Communicating &

Improving: Objectives

● Health Improvement Planning develops

breed-wide strategies as well as disease-

specific plans

● Breed health surveillance is used to inform

evidence-based plans

● External specialists/partners are involved in

planning/supporting health improvement

● A broad range of stakeholders is identified

and a wide range of approaches is used to

engage with them

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Engaged & Supportive Stakeholders:

Objectives

● All Breed Club members actively support

and contribute to meeting Health

Improvement objectives

● Non-Breed Club breeders and owners are

aware of breed health recommendations

● Potential owners are well-informed about the

breed and how to buy/own a healthy dog

● The Kennel Club supports and recognises

the work of the Breed Council/Clubs

● The breed is widely recognised for its

achievements in health improvement © 2011 Ian J Seath

Breed Health Improvement:

Objectives

● Specific breed disease prevalence is

reduced

● Aspects of breed conformation that

adversely affect health are addressed

● Issues of genetic diversity are addressed

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Breed Health Improvement Maturity

Assessment

A framework for self-assessment & planning

© 2011 Ian J Seath

5 levels of Breed Health

Improvement Maturity

5: Inspiring The breed is widely recognised as being a benchmark for its health

improvement strategy and has demonstrated sustainable improvements

4: Intelligent The breed has a clear and effective strategy and there are early signs of

real health improvements

3: Initiative There is a breed-wide approach to health improvement and plans are in

place to address priority issues

2: Intent A few Clubs are taking the lead in tackling the breed's most significant

health issues

1: Initial There is little evidence of a breed-wide approach to health improvement

and some evidence of a "breed in denial"

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Breed Health Improvement Maturity

alignment with the KarltonIndexTM

5: Inspiring

KI > 60%

The breed is widely recognised as being a benchmark for its health

improvement strategy and has demonstrated sustainable improvements

4: Intelligent

KI 40-59%

The breed has a clear and effective strategy and there are early signs of

real health improvements

3: Initiative

KI 20-39%

There is a breed-wide approach to health improvement and plans are in

place to address priority issues

2: Intent

KI 10-19%

A few Clubs are taking the lead in tackling the breed's most significant

health issues

1: Initial

KI 0-9%

There is little evidence of a breed-wide approach to health improvement

and some evidence of a "breed in denial"

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Lead...

1: Leadership

& Capability

2: Processes for

Planning,

Communicating &

Improving

4: Real Breed

Health

Improvements

3: Engaged &

Supportive

Stakeholders

© 2011 Ian J Seath

L1: Leadership

5: Inspiring Leadership of health improvement is widely shared by individuals and

groups representing all breed interests ( e.g. pet, show, working, agility,

obedience)

4: Intelligent Leadership of health matters includes veterinary and/or geneticist

expertise

3: Initiative A Health Sub-Committee has been appointed and a few keen individuals

are taking a lead

2: Intent A Health Coordinator has been appointed

1: Initial There is no obvious leadership or interest in Breed Health Improvement

© 2011 Ian J Seath

L2: Resources/Funding

5: Inspiring Fund-raising is driven by the Breed Health Plan, with clear annual targets

and criteria for spending/investment

4: Intelligent A Health Fund is established and Clubs and individuals contribute

3: Initiative Fund-raising is carried out on a case-by-case basis to deal with individual

health issues

2: Intent Funds are raised on an ad hoc basis (e.g. Club raffles)

1: Initial There are no resources available, or allocated, to health improvement and

the Breed Council/Clubs see no need for a Health Fund

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Plan...

1: Leadership

& Capability

2: Processes for

Planning,

Communicating &

Improving

4: Real Breed

Health

Improvements

3: Engaged &

Supportive

Stakeholders

© 2011 Ian J Seath

P1: Planning

5: Inspiring Breed Health Plans are evidence-based, regularly reviewed and

demonstrably driving improvements

4: Intelligent There is a clearly defined strategy and plans for breed health

improvement covering all four areas of this framework (Lead, Plan,

Engage, Improve)

3: Initiative Plans are developed to include 'enablers' (Lead and Plan) as well as

addressing individual health issues

2: Intent Plans are developed for individual health issues, but there is no overall

strategy

1: Initial There are no plans for breed health improvement

© 2011 Ian J Seath

P2: Breed Health Surveillance

5: Inspiring In addition to Breed Health Improvement planning with surveillance from

surveys, there is regular monitoring of causes of death, genetic diversity,

litter sizes/fertility and Popular Sires

4: Intelligent There is a process in place for continuous health surveillance using

surveys of health problems and deaths, and the results are reviewed and

published

3: Initiative A Breed Health Survey has been conducted in the past 12 months and

the data have been used to inform Health Improvement Plans

2: Intent Plans are being developed to implement a Breed Health Survey

1: Initial There is no health surveillance in place and no plans to implement it; the

KC Survey from 2004 is "long-forgotten"

© 2011 Ian J Seath

P3: Partners

5: Inspiring The Breed Council/Clubs openly and willingly share learning, and work in

partnership with those in other breeds to help improve canine health

4: Intelligent A range of relevant partners, including those in other breeds with similar

issues, works with the Breed Council/Clubs to support improvement

activities

3: Initiative External specialists are involved with the Breed Council/Clubs in helping

to plan overall breed health improvement

2: Intent External specialists work with the Breed Council/Clubs on addressing

specific health issues

1: Initial No external partners or specialists are involved in breed health

improvement

© 2011 Ian J Seath

P4: Communication

5: Inspiring A comprehensive communications strategy underpins all health

improvement activity and addresses all key stakeholders

4: Intelligent Communication is two-way, open, planned, regular and targeted at key

audiences, using a diverse range of channels/media

3: Initiative Additional communications channels are adopted, including online social

media

2: Intent Health matters are published in an ad hoc manner on Club websites and

in newsletters

1: Initial There is no communication of breed health matters

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Engage...

© 2011 Ian J Seath

1: Leadership

& Capability

2: Processes for

Planning,

Communicating &

Improving

4: Real Breed

Health

Improvements

3: Engaged &

Supportive

Stakeholders

E1: Breed Club Members

5: Inspiring The majority of Breed Club members fully support health improvement

activities, including issues related to genetic diversity, and are

open/honest about health issues

4: Intelligent Most Breed Club members willingly support screening and health

recommendations and are aware of genetic diversity issues (CoI)

3: Initiative Many Breed Club members adopt screening and health improvement

recommendations made by the Breed Council/Clubs

2: Intent Breed health issues are brought into the open by a few concerned

members of Breed Council/Club Committees, or Club members

1: Initial Breed health issues are ignored or denied by the Breed Council/Clubs

and their members

© 2011 Ian J Seath

E2: Breeders - Non-Club Members

5: Inspiring The majority of people breeding a litter adopt the good practices

recommended by the Breed Council/Clubs, including those on genetic

diversity and CoI

4: Intelligent Most breeders are aware of, and willingly adopt, screening and health

recommendations and a few are aware of genetic diversity issues

3: Initiative Some breeders are aware of, and adopt, screening and health

improvement recommendations made by the Breed Council/Clubs

2: Intent A minority of breeders are aware of the health issues/recommendations

made by the Breed Council/Clubs, but few adopt them

1: Initial Most breeders are unaware of health issues, or ignore and deny them

© 2011 Ian J Seath

E3: Owners and Potential Owners

5: Inspiring The majority of buyers/owners are aware of the good practices

recommended by the Breed Council/Clubs, including those on genetic

diversity and CoI, and make well-informed buying decisions

4: Intelligent Most buyers/owners are fully aware of breed-specific screening and

health recommendations, as well as genetic diversity issues

3: Initiative Many buyers/owners are aware of screening and health improvement

recommendations made by the Breed Council/Clubs and use them to

inform their buying decision

2: Intent A few buyers/owners are aware of the health issues/recommendations

made by the Breed Council/Clubs, but rarely take account of them

1: Initial Most buyers/owners are unaware of health issues in the breed and are

uninformed when making a buying decision

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Improve...

© 2011 Ian J Seath

1: Leadership

& Capability

2: Processes for

Planning,

Communicating &

Improving

4: Real Breed

Health

Improvements

3: Engaged &

Supportive

Stakeholders

I1: Health Improvement - Disease

Reduction

5: Inspiring There is strong evidence of sustainable improvement across all the

diseases/conditions prioritised by the Breed Health Plan

4: Intelligent There is clear evidence of improvement in most specific areas of the

breed's health disease priorities

3: Initiative There is evidence of improvement in several specific diseases/ conditions

that are breed health priorities

2: Intent Some evidence of health improvements is emerging in the highest priority

area of disease in the breed

1: Initial There is no evidence of improvement in the diseases/conditions known to

affect the breed and there is some evidence that the situation is

deteriorating

© 2011 Ian J Seath

I2: Health Improvement - Conformation

5: Inspiring There is evidence of sustainable improvement in breed health as a result

of addressing conformation issues

4: Intelligent There is emerging evidence of improvement in breed health as a result of

acting to address conformation issues

3: Initiative There are plans in place and breeders and judges have been made

aware of health issues related to the breed's conformation

2: Intent The Breed Council/Clubs are aware of health issues caused by

conformation and the Breed Standard has been amended accordingly

1: Initial There is no awareness by the Breed Council/Clubs of health issues

related to conformation, or their impact on the breed's long-term viability

© 2011 Ian J Seath

I3: Health Improvement -

Genetics/Diversity

5: Inspiring There is strong evidence of sustainable improvements in genetic diversity

with reduced bottlenecks and breed average CoI below 6.25%

4: Intelligent There is clear evidence of improvement in reducing genetic bottlenecks

and moving towards a breed average CoI of 6.25% or less

3: Initiative There is some evidence of improvement in addressing specific issues of

genetic diversity such as Popular Sires, and in reducing breed average

CoI

2: Intent The Breed Council/Clubs are aware of issues caused by Popular Sires,

genetic bottlenecks, reduced fertility and breed average CoI values

exceeding 12.5%

1: Initial There is no awareness by the Breed Council/Clubs of issues related to

genetic diversity, or their impact on the long-term viability of the breed

© 2011 Ian J Seath

How to achieve Breed Health

Improvements using the Balanced

Scorecard and Maturity Assessment

Getting started...

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Five steps for achieving effective

change

Identify your starting point

Decide where you want to get to

Decide how to bridge the gaps

Get started!

Review and re-new

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Where are you now?

● Self-assess your breed using the 5-level

Assessment Gridso Ideally, this should be done by your Breed's Health

Coordinator and Health Sub-committee

● Decide which of the five levels you are

currently at, for each of the Scorecard areas:o Lead

o Plan

o Engage

o Improve

● Identify the key issues your assessment has

highlighted that need to be addressed© 2011 Ian J Seath

Where are you now? - example

Improve Engage

I1: Disease E1: Breed Club Members

I2: Conformation E2: Non-Breed Club Breeders

I3: Genetics/Diversity E3: Owners/Potential Owners

Plan Lead

P1: Planning L1: Leadership

P2: Health Surveillance L2: Resources/Funding

P2: Partners

P4: Communication

Initial Intent Initiative Intelligent Inspiring

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Where are you now? - example

Initial Intent Initiative Intelligent Inspiring

L1: Leadership

L2: Resources/Funding

P1: Planning

P2: Health Surveillance

P3: Partners

P4: Communication

E1: Breed Club Members

E2: Non-Breed Club Breeders

E3: Owners/Potential Owners

I1: Disease Reduction

I2: Conformation

I3: Genetics/Diversity© 2011 Ian J Seath

Where do you want to be?

● Identify what you currently do well and need

to continue to do

● Identify what you currently do well, but need

to enhance, or "step up a gear"

● Identify what you currently do well and could

usefully extend into other areas

● Identify what you currently do that isn't really

working and needs to be changed

● Identify what you are currently not doing and

need to start

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Where do you want to be?

● Be realistic about what you want to achieve

and how quickly you can achieve it

o Leadership and Planning objectives can be

achieved within 1-2 years

o Engagement objectives will take longer to achieve;

perhaps 2-4 years

o Health Improvement objectives may take 4-10

years to achieve, depending on your breed's starting

point and the range of issues to be addressed

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Decide how to bridge the gaps

● Identify the most important and practical

opportunities for further improvement:o Where can your breed make better use of its

strengths?

o Where can you learn from good practice in other

breeds and apply it in your own?

o Where could you be more systematic in the way you

do things?

o Where do existing initiatives need better

coordination or organisation?

o Which of the "enablers" will have the biggest impact

on the "results" your breed needs to achieve?

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Get started!

● If you wait to develop the "perfect plan", you

will wait a very long time

● If you wait to get "everyone on board", you

will wait a very long time

● Find some "early supporters" who want to

work with you to improve things

● Have a go; see what works, then refine it

and extend it

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Who will come with you?

Champions

Early

Supporters

Wait and see

Reluctant

Followers

Blockers and

Terrorists

Enthuse

Educate

Enforce

© 2011 Ian J Seath

Review and renew

● Review progress at least twice a year, to

ensure your planned actions are being

implementedo Ensure the Breed Council/Clubs are aware of

progress, successes and barriers

● Review how relevant and appropriate your

current actions areo Health priorities can change

o New research findings can open up new

opportunities

● Repeat your self-assessment using the

framework (perhaps every 18-24 months)© 2011 Ian J Seath

Success factors...

● Be open and honest when assessing your breed's

current situation

● Be ready to learn from good ideas and practices in

other breeds

● Share your breed's good practices with others

● Don't dwell on the past; focus on improving things for

the future of the breed

● Use the Scorecard and Assessment Framework as a

guide, not a "prescription"

● Don't expect quick fixes; real health improvement is a

long-term commitment

© 2011 Ian J Seath