Strategic Planning-Design for Impact
Before we can measure impact, we have to design for impact. I’ll be honest and say most of the organizations and companies that hire me initially aren’t totally clear about the exact impact they want to make. In most cases, we end up starting the process with strategic planning processes rather than diving directly into the measurement work. This can include working with the leader, a small team, or a wide array of stakeholders to align organizational efforts towards clear goals, refine the social impact goals in a logic model or a Business Model Canvas, or create an evaluation plan. We are driven to make sure the strategic planning process does four things:
1) Creates guiding documents that represent the core drivers fueling the orgnaization’s daily work
2) Translates results seen on the ground into measurable, sharable outcomes
3) Prescribes systems of measurement and reflection that are size-appropriate for the organization
4) Communicates the core methodology and beliefs to all stakeholders in a logical sequence. When everyone is aligned around common goals, it maximizes investment and prevents mission drift.