Matrix in the News | Matrix Knowledge Group – North America

This case study provides an overview of the performance management software that Matrix Knowledge Group developed on behalf of the UK’s National Offender Management System (NOMS). It describes some of the advantages of the Matrix system, such as faster turnaround of performance management reports, easier access to a wide range of performance data, an easy to use web interface for collecting performance data, and improved quality of the collected data.

The Evaluation of the Pathways to Work Program for Cancer Survivors has now been launched in the UK, click here to access it.

With growing concerns to establish the value for returns on public health investment, there is a need to identify cost-effective physical activity interventions. Dr. Kevin Marsh, Head of Economics at Matrix co-authored this study which can be downloaded here.
The UK study measured change in moderate physical activity (MPA) in seven community-based intervention types, costs and cost-effectiveness of the interventions, and possible explanations for cost variation.

Matrix has launched a new application for all 142 prisons as an extension to the existing NOMS.
This system provides all prisons, Directors of Offender Management, and Central Government with a secure, comprehensive integrated way to assess operational and corporate performance, through improving the speed and flexibility of reporting. The system also makes available a range of new data and information sources for the prison services and reduces costs.

Matrix has been contracted to undertake a comparative study on best practices in monitoring forcible returns of illegal immigrants to their home countries. The project is being funded by the Department of Justice, Liberty and Security of the European Commission. The objectives of the study are to:

Matrix has recently been awarded a Framework Contract to provide evaluation support to the Information Society and Media Department of the European Commission. Matrix will be conducting a range of interim and ex post evaluation studies. The contract will run over a period of 4 years with a maximum value of up to €3million.

Matrix has been contracted to undertake an impact assessment of potential policies to improve the compensation system for victims of crime. The study looks into the extent of the problem across the European Union, options for tackling the problem and potential costs of those options. It is a follow up of an assessment on victim compensation schemes we conducted in 2008.

Play England has contracted Matrix to undertake an economic evaluation of the value added by after school play clubs and adventure playgrounds. This is an important piece of research that will help all organizations in the field in their continued support for children and young people’s play.

The Health Foundation has contracted with Matrix to deliver three best evidence reviews that will contribute to answering the question, ‘What works to improve the quality of healthcare?’

The reviews are part of a new program that builds on an earlier Health Foundation series of systematic reviews. The first two topics will cover how to scale up and spread proven innovation and best practice, and how best to shift the balance of care from hospitals to the community.

Paul Dolan, Professor at the London School of Economics and Chief Scientist at Matrix has developed MINDSPACE, a practical guide on how to influence behavior through public policy.
This guide was developed with colleagues at the Institute for Government and Imperial College London. You can download the report here.

Ever wondered what drives us to behave in the way we do? from Matrix Knowledge Group on Vimeo.

Matrix Knowledge Group is going to be working with the BMJ Evidence Centre on a contract to deliver Technology Assessment Reviews (TARS) for the UK National Institute for Health Research. This contract is one of the first agreements of this type reached with a research group outside of the university system.

TARS are commissioned to meet the urgent needs of national NHS decision-making bodies and policy customers, such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). TARS are most commonly produced to inform NICE guidance on the use of new and existing medicines, treatments and procedures within the NHS. A defining characteristic of TARS is the need to produce the highest quality reviews of evidence to strict deadlines.

Dr Tony Munton, a Managing Director of Matrix, said ‘We are delighted to be providing economic and review expertise to our partnership with the BMJ Evidence Centre on what is an extremely important contract for the NHS”.

Dr Rubin Minhas, Clinical Director of BMJ Evidence Centre said: “This contract acknowledges the rigor of our methodology at the Evidence Centre as we are required to produce high quality assessment reports to strict timetables”.

Kevin Marsh, Head of Economics at Matrix co-authored the 2nd edition of Evidence-Based Decisions and Economics in Health Care, Social Welfare, Education and Criminal Justice, which is now on sale.

Expanding on the first edition the book now covers approaches to evidence synthesis that combine economics and systematic review methods in the applied fields of social welfare, education and criminal justice, as well as health care.

Matrix Evidence have been commissioned by the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People’s Services (C4EO) to conduct three evidence reviews over the next year. Read the press release to find out more.

Matrix was commissioned by the European Commission to review the impact and effectiveness of its funding of several hundred industrial and technology projects across the EU27. The aim of the program was to support growth, innovation and global competiveness within Europe.
You can see the results of the evaluation exercise here and download the full report.

Matrix recently worked on the inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning which has been reported in the UK Guardian newspaper. The following links show how the Inquiry was reflected in the UK press: life-long learning and adult education.

Matrix and Health England recently launched H.E.L.P (Health England Leading Prioritization), an interactive on line tool supporting public health professionals and purchasers work in a way that is consistent with ‘World Class Commissioning’. Click here to visit the website.

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) Institute supports the NHS to transform health care for patients and the public by rapidly developing and spreading new ways of working, new technology, and world class leadership. Expert on Call gives leading thinkers from the NHS Institute and beyond the opportunity to share their experiences and answer questions from NHS staff working in service improvement.

During this session, which is being held Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 4:00pm in the United Kingdom, David Welbourn will speak about the concept of organizational health which can help us understand how large organizations, such as the NHS, work and how they can respond to the challenges they face.

You can listen to the recording here.

Professor Paul Dolan, Chief Scientist at Matrix Knowledge Group, co-wrote an article published in the British Medical Journal on prioritizing decisions about conditions and treatments, which they argue should be based on people’s experiences rather than on what people think they might feel. You can download the article here.

Matrix was recently awarded single contractor status on the framework contract for impact assessments in the field of health economics. Specific assignments under this framework contract will involve valuing and measuring the health impact of Commission proposals, carrying out risk assessments and assessments of the impact of technological innovation on health outcomes in Europe.

Matrix wrote a case study on the inspection of the safety of imported goods for the local better regulation office which has been quoted in a government white paper – A Better Deal for Consumers: Delivering Real Help Now and Change for the Future . Matrix was commissioned to develop a risk-based cost-benefit model to identify that the UK would be better off as a whole if there is more inspection of imported goods at UK ports.

Matrix was quoted in The Times Online in an article about low-level offenders based on a study commissioned by the Make Justice Work campaign on whether short-term prison sentences are an effective and efficient use of public resources. Read the article here.

Matrix wrote an article on the use of business intelligence to improve correctional services which has been published by BeyeNETWORK. The article compares the use of performance management metrics in the UK and US correctional systems. Click here to read the article.

The European Commission, through the Directorate-General for Research, commissioned Matrix Insight to evaluate the impact of the ERA-NET scheme and related matters. Rambøll Management and independent experts are supported by Matrix in delivering the impact assessment. Click here to read the report titled Summary of the Impact Assessment Study of the ERA-NET scheme under the Sixth Framework Programme. You can find out more about the study by following this link.

Matrix Insight Ltd was commissioned by the Make Justice Work campaign to undertake an independent assessment of whether short-term prisons sentences are an effective and efficient use of public resources. Find out more in the press release.

Matrix Knowledge Group is proud to sponsor the Transformation award at the UK’s Guardian Public Services Awards 2009. Read more about this in our press release

Dr. Kevin Marsh, Matrix’s Head of Economics, wrote an article for Inside Time on The Real Cost of Prison. Read article »

Matrix Knowledge Group was featured in a special report about doing business in emerging markets. Read article »

David Welbourn, Matrix’s Director of Health and Human Services, wrote an article discussing practice management, finance and quality assurance. Read article »

Dr. Kevin Marsh, Matrix’s Head of Economics, was quoted in the The Economist in an article about drug-trafficking in Europe. Read article »

Matrix Knowledge Group and its work for the UK Home Office is featured in a Microsoft case study highlighting the value of our approach to hosting software on the web. Read article »

This article highlights findings from the groundbreaking study completed by Matrix Knowledge Group for the UK Home Office entitled “The Illicit Drug Trade in the United Kingdom.” Read article »

This article highlights findings from the groundbreaking study completed by Matrix Knowledge Group for the UK Home Office entitled “The Illicit Drug Trade in the United Kingdom.” Read article »

This article highlights findings from the groundbreaking study completed by Matrix Knowledge Group for the UK Home Office entitled “The Illicit Drug Trade in the United Kingdom.” Read article »

This article highlights findings from the groundbreaking study completed by Matrix Knowledge Group for the UK Home Office entitled “The Illicit Drug Trade in the United Kingdom.” Read article »