Pattern
Causal Evaluation plan
Choose enough comparison to tell whether a recomposed workflow caused the claimed change. The plan matches the study design to the claim and narrows the claim when the design cannot distinguish the intervention from staffing, case mix, policy, or season, because operational acceptance and causal effect answer different questions.
Inputs
Decision, outcome, baseline, population, timing, confounders, rollout options, and available comparison groups.
Method
Choose a baseline, matched comparison, phased rollout, interrupted time series, difference in differences, randomization, or prospective trial in proportion to the claim.
Output
A study plan with estimand, measures, exclusions, distributional analysis, and decision threshold.
Boundary
Operational acceptance and causal effect answer different questions.
Stop
Narrow the claim when the available design cannot distinguish the intervention from staffing, case mix, policy, season, or other changes.