The Hexagon Tool - Discussion & Analysis Tool Instructions - Program and Implementing Site Indicators

Oct 15, 2026

The Hexagon Discussion and Analysis Tool helps teams evaluate new and existing programs and practices through a structured review of six contextual fit and feasibility factors. It guides assessment using Program Indicators covering evidence, supports, and usability, and Implementing Site Indicators covering population need, fit, and capacity. The tool supports planning at any implementation stage, especially during Exploration, using guided discussion, documented notes, and 5-point Likert ratings to inform adoption, replication, or de-implementation recommendations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

When to Use

How to Use

Prior to Using

During Use

Program Indicators

Evidence

Supports

Usability

Implementing Site Indicators

Population Need

Fit

Capacity

The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool Hexagon Discussion & Analysis Tool Instructions NI RN © 2019 NIRN-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill © 2019 NIRN – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Metz, A. & Louison, L. (2019) The Hexagon Tool: Exploring Context. Chapel Hill, NC: National Implementation Research Network, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Based on Kiser, Zabel, Zachik, & Smith (2007) and Blase, Kiser & Van Dyke (2013) . Hexagon Discussion & Analysis Tool Instructions The Hexagon Discussion and Analysis Tool helps organizations evaluate new and existing programs and practices. This tool is designed to be used by a team to ensure diverse perspectives are represented in a discussion of the six contextual fit and feasibility factors. PROGRAM INDICATORS Program indicators assess new or existing programs or practices that will be implemented along the following domains: evidence, supports, and usability. These indicators specify the extent to which the identified program or practice demonstrates evidence, supports for implementation, and usability across a range of contexts. IMPLEMENTING SITE INDICATORS Implementing site indicators assess the extent to which a new or existing program or practice matches the implementing site along the following domains: population need, fit, and capacity. The assessment specifies suggested conditions and requirements for a strong match to need, fit, and capacity for the identified program or and practice. WHEN TO USE The Hexagon Tool can be used at any stage in a program’s implementation to determine its fit with the local context. It is most commonly used during the Exploration stage: the period when a site is identifying possible new programs or practices to implement. If the organization has an Implementation Team, the Implementation Team can carry out this function for the organization. HOW TO USE PRIOR TO USING 1. Identify the program or practice to be assessed. 2. Review the discussion questions prior to meeting to ensure any data or resources that need to be reviewed for this discussion are available. If appropriate, an organization may prioritize components for deeper exploration based on the context and potential programs or practices. 3. Identify a team to participate in the discussion. If the site has an Implementation Team, that team can complete the assessment as part of their work. If not, identify key stakeholders internal and external to the organization who have important diverse perspectives on the need and possible programs or practices. Suggested team members include leaders, managers, direct practitioners and consumers or community members. DURING USE 1. The team should review and discuss the questions for each indicator and document relevant considerations. Extra space is included in each section for notes and additional questions identified by the team to address unique needs and contexts. 2. After discussing each component, the team rates the component using the 5-point Likert scale in each section. 3. Using the discussion notes and ratings, the team makes recommendations about whether to adopt, replicate, or de-implement the program or practice. While ratings should be taken into account during the decision-making process, the ratings alone should not be used to determine final recommendations. The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool The Hexagon can be used as a planning tool to guide selection and evaluate potential programs and practices for use. IMPLEMENTING SITE INDICATORS PROGRAM INDICATORS CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE Staff meet minimum qualifications Able to sustain staffing, coaching, training, data systems, performance assessment, and administration • Financial capacity • Structural capacity • Cultural responsivity capacity Buy-in process operationalized • Practitioners • Families FIT WITH CURRENT INITIATIVES Alignment with com

FAQs

What is the Hexagon Discussion and Analysis Tool used for?

It helps organizations evaluate new and existing programs and practices by ensuring diverse perspectives are represented when discussing six contextual fit and feasibility factors.

What domains do the Program Indicators assess?

They assess evidence, supports for implementation, and usability, specifying how the program or practice demonstrates these across a range of contexts.

When and how should teams use the tool during program implementation?

It can be used at any stage to determine fit with the local context, most commonly during the Exploration stage. Teams review questions, document considerations, rate each component with a 5-point Likert scale, and then recommend adoption, replication, or de-implementation based on notes and ratings.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair