About Systems Thought Partners

Honesty. Positivity. Adaptability.

About Dr. Nora E. Douglas

Dr. Nora E. Douglas has been working in the field of continuous quality improvement and measurement for over 15 years. She has worked with state agencies, nonprofits, public school districts, and public universities. Nora received her Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The University of Texas at Arlington. She has applied her expertise in improvement science and evaluation methods to various topics, including gerontology, health care, and education.

Nora’s areas of expertise range from program planning and implementation; study design; data collection (including survey development, focus group facilitation, interviewing, and case studies), management and analysis; report writing; and presenting results to governmental agencies, community organizations, legislators, and the general public.

Our Values

Honesty

Honesty is demonstrated in what we say and do. It connotes integrity, truthfulness, and openness. Honesty requires us to be reliable, trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere.

Positivity

Positivity leads us to engage in positive thinking, have positive emotions, and engage in positive behaviors like kindness and generosity. It means bringing energy and enthusiasm to our work.

Adaptability

Adaptability means be able to change and maintain effectiveness in a changing environment. It requires us to be resourceful leaders with a determination to find a solution no matter the changing environment.

Commitment to Clients

  • Be a true partner in this work: At Systems Thought Partners LLC we work together with our clients to make meaningful change. We are present and visible. We carry the workload when it is helpful and collaborate at every opportunity.
  • Meet you where you are: We aim to provide solutions and recommendations that are feasible for your organization now, with room for growth in the future.
  • Provide a safe environment to explore and grow: No judgement. Every organization has room for growth and improvement. You have to start somewhere! We want you to feel comfortable.

Equity Statement

At Systems Thought Partners LLC, our work is driven by a desire to make lives better for people. Your leaders. Your staff. Your clients. Our commitment to equity is reflected in the following statements:

We commit to:

  • Welcoming difficult conversations
  • Continuously learning and increasing inclusive behaviors
  • Critically examining the WHY within systems to understand intent (both within our organization and for our clients)
  • Always asking WHO is affected by the work that we do and include them in decision making
  • Bringing culturally competent language to our work
  • Making every effort to make accommodations within our services so that all clients have an inclusive experience

“To practice quality control is to develop, design, produce, and service a quality product which is most economical, most useful, and always satisfactory to the consumer.” ~Kaouru Ishikawa

What others are saying about Systems Thought Partners….

“I worked with Nora over the course of about 6 months on a data management plan and series of analyses for a complex, agile grant program at The Roddenberry Foundation. As an administrator on this program, getting to work with Nora was a privilege. She is exceptionally insightful, clear, and is able to parse through the “noise” to get at the heart of our work. Nora also made recommendations that were right-sized and reflected our team’s internal abilities, capacity, and values. If data is at all a part of your work, I cannot recommend Nora enough. Her expertise will make your work better.”

Jessie Beebie
Grantmaking & Programs Officer
The Roddenberry Foundation

“Nora has always demonstrated initiative and ingenuity. She asks insightful questions, making her a stellar partner for focus groups and interviews. I always feel secure knowing Nora will notice details everyone else misses.

Nora’s friendly and positive demeanor is probably one of her greatest strengths. She is rarely fazed by set-backs; in fact, she seems to enjoy problem-solving unexpected obstacles. Nora establishes rapport everywhere she goes and immediately puts people at ease, even in stressful situations.”

Sarina Peterson
Co-Owner
Amoeba Sisters, LLC

“Dr. Douglas is an exceptional professional with whom I have worked for several years. She combines deep statistical analysis with critical contextual knowledge. Nora also works often and well with a wide variety of stakeholders and executives. It is invaluable to work with her when setting and resetting strategic decisions.”

Dr. Linda Johnson
CEO, Aspire
Aspire