Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting: Measure for Impact
We leverage data to understand all types of impact. In addition to the standard metrics you might expect, our specialty is bringing the intangible types of impact into sharper focus (i.e. concepts around culture, belonging, empowerment, psychological safety, social networks, creative confidence, self-compassion, etc.) No matter the type of impact, the science of our work is grounded in data analytics. We work in each stage of the data life cycle: capturing, maintaining, processing, analyzing, and communicating data. However, our most important work is to discern the purpose of the measurement and make that actionable. In the measurement world, we have an acronym MERL. Each process represented in the acronym uses data to enhance performance within an organization.
· Monitoring: use data to track fidelity of implementation, track climate and culture, track progress towards established goals.
· Evaluation: Use data to answer the questions: “Is this effective? Does it do what it says it does? Is it equally effective across diverse populations?”
· Research: Use data to discover new ways to do things, to understand an ecosystem, understand a market, understand a phenomenon
· Learning: Use data to improve the organization, its members, particularly its leadership. Identify blindspots and quickly track new trends.
Whatever the purpose, it is always a collaboration. It is the job of the leaders to understand the organization’s direction, and our job is to understand measurement. We listen and we translate the concerns we hear from leaders into systems of data collection and analysis so that impact is maximized. We specialized in strategic listening through surveys and focus groups, as well as impact analysis.