Theory of ?h?ng? D?finiti?n, Ex?l?in?d, Examples

Theory of ?h?ng? D?finiti?n, Ex?l?in?d, Examples Nonprofit organizations have goals which they want to achieve. These goals are also the reasons why donors give them money.In order for them to achieve these goals, they need to have a plan. A very well-articulated plan I must add, that wouldn’t just be fancy, but achievable too.To create these plans, they employ what we call the theory of change.Theory of change basically involves planning backwards from the desired goal to what need to be done for that goal to be achieved. It involves knowing key mile stones and activities that are paramount to the achievement of a desired goal.Think of it like “project management”.Let’s say you want to fly to Washington from New York, instead of making plans from how you would leave your house from New York, you plan backwards from Washington to New York considering those key factors that will affect the trip.For example, you check a scenario where you don’t miss your flight, and in other not to miss that flight, you have to get to the a irport early.Different people u?? the t?rm “theory ?f change” t? mean different thing?.At it? h??rt, Th??r? ?f Ch?ng? kind of explains the initi?tiv? ?r mile stones for a particular program or goal. It d?fin?? l?ng-t?rm goals and th?n maps backward t? identify ?h?ng?? that n??d t? happen earlier f?r th??? g??l? t? b? ??hi?v?d.The id?ntifi?d ?h?ng?? ?r? m????d gr??hi??ll? in causal ??thw??? of outcomes or results, ?h?wing each ?ut??m? or result in r?l?ti?n?hi? to h?w the other ?ut??m?? or r??ult will ?ff??t it.It is important to know that the theory of change is not an abstract concept, it is more of a practice or an activity. Let the phrase “theory of change” not confuse you into thinking it’s a philosophical concept. It is an activity done in an office or even a conference room where groups of individuals gather together and make a plan for achieving a particular goals and often paste sheets of paper with their ideas on the wall and then try to connect them in such a way that activity A will ultimately lead to the achievement of the goal which is activity B. Think of it like detective work, where the police try to solve a puzzle by pasting pictures of evidence on the wall.THE THEORY OF CHANGETheory ?f Change i? b?th a process and a ?r?du?tTh? ?r????? ?f w?rking out the th??r?, usually in gr?u? ????i?n? of relevant stakeholders i? ?ll part of th? theory of ?h?ng?. The ?r?du?t ?f th?t ?r?????, which is usually a d??um?nt ?f the change m?d?l ?h?wing how and wh? a g??l will b? r???h?d is ?l?? ??rt ?f th? th??r? ?f ?h?ng?.There is a great deal ?f debate ?? t? whi?h ?r?vid?? m?r? valueâ€"the group process of r?fl??ting ?n th? work, inventing assumptions, ?r??ting transparency and building ??n??n?u?; or the product, a sound and complete plan with ??t?nti?l for ?r?du?ing th? ?h?ng? d??ir?d.In practice, a Th??r? ?f Change t??i??ll?:Giv?? th? big picture, in?luding i??u?? related t? the ?nvir?nm?nt ?r ??nt?xt th?t ??u can’t control.Sh?w? all th? different ? ?thw??? th?t might l??d t? ?h?ng?, ?v?n if th??? ??thw??? ?r? n?t r?l?t?d t? ??ur ?r?gr?m.Describes how ?nd why you think ?h?ng? happens.C?uld be used t? ??m?l?t? th? ??nt?n?? “if w? do X th?n Y will change because…”.Is presented as a di?gr?m with narrative t?xt.Th? di?gr?m is fl?xibl? ?nd doesn’t h?v? a ??rti?ul?r f?rm?t â€" it ??uld include ???li??l ?r???????, feedback loops, ?n? box ??uld lead t? multiple ?th?r b?x??, diff?r?nt shapes could be u??d, etc.Describes why ??u think one b?x will l??d to another b?x (?.g. if ??u think in?r????d kn?wl?dg? will lead to b?h?vi?ur ?h?ng?, is th?t ?n ???um?ti?n ?r d? ??u h?v? ?vid?n?? t? ?h?w it i? th? ?????).I? m?inl? u??d ?? a t??l f?r ?r?gr?m d??ign ?nd ?v?lu?ti?n.Theory ?f Change i? U??d f?r Pl?nning ?nd Ev?lu?ti?nA? a ?l?nning t??l, Th??r? of Ch?ng? h?l?? organizations ask im??rt?nt ?u??ti?n? about th?ir work. It ??n ?tr?ngth?n partnerships, ?u???rt organizational d?v?l??m?nt, ?nd f??ilit?t? communication.Th??r? ?f Ch?ng? ?rigin ?t?d ?? ?n ?v?lu?ti?n tool, and ?? such it ?x?l?in? the ??thw??? ?f change th?t l??d t? th? l?ng-t?rm g??l ?nd th? ??nn??ti?n? b?tw??n ??tiviti??, ?ut?ut? ?nd outcomes th?t ???ur ?t ???h step ?l?ng th? way.Th? clarity of ?ur?????, r??ult?, and strategies th?t Th??r? of Ch?ng? d?liv?r? sharpens interventions ?nd ?v?lu?ti?n d??ign? and strengthens th? ability of ?r??titi?n?r? to t?k? ?r?dit f?r outcomes th?t were ?r?di?t?d in th?ir theory.Theory ?f Ch?ng?’? Basic Stru?tur?Th? ?ut??m?? ??thw?? is a ??t ?f gr??hi??ll? depicted building bl??k? ?rd?r?d ?nd ??nn??t?d thr?ugh a ??u??l chain. Out??m?? ?l?ng th? pathway ?r? ?l?? preconditions to outcomes ?b?v? them. Thu? early outcomes mu?t b? in place f?r intermediate ?ut??m?? t? be ??hi?v?d; intermediate ?ut??m?? must be in place for th? n?xt ??t ?f outcomes to be ??hi?v?d; ?nd so ?n. An outcomes ??thw?? therefore represents th? change logic and it? underlying ??t of ???um?ti?n?, which are spelled ?ut in the rationales given for why speci fic ??nn??ti?n? ?xi?t b?tw??n ?ut??m??, ?nd in th? th??r? narrative.Theory ?f Ch?ng? turns ??nv?nti?n?l ?l?nning on it? h??d b???u?? it ?u?h?? gr?u?? t? first w?rk ?ut th?ir goals ?r desired im???t and work b??kw?rd? ?n outcome ??thw??? rather th?n ?ng?g? in ??nv?nti?n?l f?rw?rd ?ri?nt?d “??-th?t” reasoning. A? ?n ?x?m?l? ?f so-that r????ning, a gr?nt?? d??id?? to increase media coverage ?n th? lack ?f health in?ur?n?? among ?hildr?n ?? that ?ubli? awareness in?r????? ?? th?t ??li??m?k?r? increase their kn?wl?dg? ?nd int?r??t ?? th?t policies ?h?ng? so that m?r? children h?v? h??lth in?ur?n??. In Th??r? ?f Ch?ng?, b? ??ntr??t, th? gr?u? begins not with it? int?rv?nti?n but with its l?ng-t?rm goal and ?ut??m?? ?nd th?n works b??kw?rd (in tim?) t?w?rd th? ??rli??t changes that need to ???ur. Only wh?n th? ??thw?? h?? been d?v?l???d is it tim? t? ??n?id?r which int?rv?nti?n? will best ?r?du?? th? ?ut??m?? in the ??thw??.BASIC COMPONENTS OF THE THEORY OF CHANGEOut??m?? P?thw???A Th? ?r? of Ch?ng? shows outcomes in ?n “outcomes pathway”. Out??m?? in a Th??r? ?f Ch?ng? r??r???nt changes in ??nditi?n ?f ??m? kind â€" wh?th?r a policy, l?w, behavior, ?ttitud?, knowledge, ?t?t? ?f th? ?nvir?nm?ntâ€"or ?m?ng ????l?, institutions, and environments. Outcomes ?r? the building bl??k? ?f a Theory ?f Ch?ng?.An ?ut??m? i? n?v?r ??m?thing lik? “distribute fliers t? all r??id?nt?”, ?r “immuniz? ?hildr?n”. However, “all ?hildr?n ?r? immunized” may b? a v?lid ?ut??m?. Out??m?? include Long-term Outcomes, and Int?rm?di?t?/Sh?rt-t?rm Out??m??.The t?rm “impact is ?ft?n r???rv?d for the ultim?t? g??l of ?n initi?tiv?, but i? n?t a m???ur?bl? ?ut??m? ?f that initiative ?l?n?.For ?x?m?l?, if ?n ?rg?niz?ti?n works to ?r?vid? j?b tr?ining, ?du??ti?n ?r?gr?m?, and ??r??r counseling, it may b? th?t the ultim?t? reason f?r d?ing thi? is t? ?r??t? ?u?t?in?bl? family in??m?? ?nd r?du?? poverty in the ??mmunit?.It w?? th? reduction in ??v?rt? that dr?v? the initi?tiv?, but th? ?rg?niz?ti?n m?? n?t b? dir??tl? accountable for r?du?ing ??v?rt?. What ?n ?rg?niz?ti?n usually d??id?? t? be dir??tl? ????unt?bl? f?r is the Long-term Outcome. Thi? i? a clearly ?t?t?d, f??u??d, m???ur?bl? and ?l?u?ibl? goal f?r th? initiative.All outcomes n??d?d t? g?t t? th? “L?ng-t?rm Out??m?” in ?n outcomes ??thw?? are ?r???nditi?n? to the Long-term Out??m? ?nd the Im???t. Pr???nditi?n? define wh?t has t? change if the ultimate goal or impact is g?ing t? b? ??hi?v?d. Pr???nditi?n? (whi?h are also ?ut??m??) ?r? mapped backwards in pathways fr?m th? Long-term Out??m? t? th? ?r???nt ?nd th? near futur?.A G??d-Qu?lit? Th??r? ?f ChangeOn? of th? m??t ??mm?n questions, with b?th f??ilit?t?r? and organization ?t?ff, is wh?th?r th?? h?v? done it “right”, ?nd h?w can they kn?w if their Theory ?f Ch?ng? i? a g??d one? Th? ???ur??? of th? th??r? will be b?rn? out over tim?, thr?ugh ?ng?ing l??rning and ?v?lu?ti?n.H?w?v?r, m?king sure th?t th? Th??r? ?f Change ??t?bli?h?d initi ?ll? i? ?? thorough and specific as ????ibl? will in?r???? the ?h?n?? ?f attaining the desired ?ut??m??.In th? ??rl? d??? ?f Theory ?f Ch?ng?, Anne Kubi??h ?nd ?th?r? (Kubisch 1997) ??t?bli?h?d ?u?lit? ??ntr?l ?rit?ri?. Th??? ?r?:PlausibilityF???ibilit?T??t?bilit?Pl?u?ibilit? r?f?r? to the l?gi? ?f th? ?ut??m?? ??thw??. D??? it make ??n??? Ar? th? ?ut??m?? in th? right ?rd?r? Are the ?r???nditi?n? ???h necessary ?nd ??ll??tiv?l? sufficient to r???h th? l?ngt?rm ?ut??m?? ?nd ultim?t? impact? Ar? there g??? in th? l?gi??Feasibility r?f?r? t? wh?th?r th? initiative ??n realistically ??hi?v? it? l?ng-t?rm ?ut??m?? and impact. D??? th? organization have adequate r???ur???? Does it need ??rtn?r?? Does the ?????, ?x???t?ti?n?, or tim?lin? of th? th??r? n??d ?dju?tm?nt?T??t?bilit? r?f?r? ?hi?fl? to the indicators: Are they ??lid and m???ur?bl?? Will th?? yield sufficient inf?rm?ti?n t? make ??ur?? corrections, ?nd to ?v?lu?t? the ?u????? ?f the initi?tiv?? Will they b? ??nvin?ing to necessa ry ?udi?n????Indi??t?r?Ev?r? ?ut??m? (?nd preconditional ?ut??m?) in a Th??r? of Change n??d? t? be ?b??rv?bl? in some w??. Stakeholders, ?v?lu?t?r?, fund?r?, ??n?titu?nt?… all need to know wh?th?r an ?ut??m? h?? b??n r???h?d (a goal has been reached). Indicators, whi?h r?f?r t? measurable ?nd observable ?h?n?m?n?, show or describe with evidence that an ??hi?v?m?nt has been reached.St?k?h?ld?r? ?h???? th? b??t indicator(s) for ???h outcome, ?ft?n with th? help ?f th?ir ?v?lu?t?r though.An indi??t?r m?? b? quantitative (?.g., number of n?w jobs ?r??t?d) ?r ?u?lit?tiv? (? d???ri?ti?n ?u?h as n?w characteristics ?f a ??mmunit?).For every indi??t?r, th? gr?u? (and ?v?lu?t?r) id?ntif? four ?l?m?nt?:Wh? ?r wh?t i? g?ing t? ?h?ng??H?w m?n? ?f them will change?How mu?h will th?? ?h?ng?? ?ndBy wh?n will the change b? realized?So, in th? ??nt?n?? “Eighty percent ?f f?urth graders will read ?t gr?d? l?v?l b? th? end of th? ????nd ???r ?f th? ?r?gr?m”, the indi??t?r it??lf m?? b? r??ding t??t ???r??, th? “who” i? f?urth-gr?d?r?, th? “h?w m?n? of th?m” is 80 ??r??nt, the “h?w mu?h will th?? ?h?ng??” is being ?bl? to read ?t gr?d? l?v?l, ?nd th? “b? when” is ?t th? ?nd ?f two ???r? ?f th? program.InterventionsOn?? th? outcomes fr?m?w?rk is complete ?r ?t least ??nn??t?d in rudim?nt?r? pathways, it i? tim? t? id?ntif? ?nd explain int?rv?nti?n?. Int?rv?nti?n? are th? w?rk undertaken within ?n initi?tiv? or ?r?gr?m undertaken th?t l??d to th? d??ir?d outcomes.In a Theory of Change, the term “int?rv?nti?n” may refer to ?ingl? activities ?r wh?l? programs, depending ?n how specific th? group wants t? b? ?nd how th?? w?nt t? use th? theory with r?????t t? a ?tr?t?gi? plan ?r th??r? ?f action. M???ing int?rv?nti?n? to th? ?ut??m?? pathway h?? th? effect ?f revealing ?tr?t?g?: it shows the th??r?ti??l linkages between actions ?nd r??ult? ?ll ?l?ng th? w??.Int?rv?nti?n? can b? l???t?d ?n ?n outcomes fr?m?w?rk by m??n? ?f ??mb?l? positioned ?l?ng the connect ors b?tw??n the outcomes, illustrating that th? int?rv?nti?n can b?gin once Out??m? A i? r??liz?d, ?nd th?t it? successful ??m?l?ti?n is n??????r? to ?r?du?ing Out??m? B.Th? l?gi? for ?l??ing an intervention is as f?ll?w?: Out??m? A ??t? u? th? conditions th?t allow Out??m? B t? unf?ld. Nevertheless, Outcome A (?nd other ?ut??m?? in th? ??m? ?h??? ?f w?rk) may n?t in it??lf be ?uffi?i?nt for Outcome B t? tr?n??ir?. Therefore, t? achieve Out??m? B, we need int?rv?nti?n. Th? int?rv?nti?n, or ??mb?l f?r th?t intervention, i? ?l???d ?n th? connector b?tw??n Out??m? A ?nd Out??m? B.An ?rg?niz?ti?n will lik?l? discover that ??m? ?urr?nt int?rv?nti?n? ?r? n?t aligned with th? Th??r? of Change. This r?i??? ?h?ll?nging ?u??ti?n? ?b?ut whether t? ??ntinu? with ??tiviti?? that ??nn?t b? ?h?wn t? ??ntribut? ?ignifi??ntl? to th? ?ut??m?? in th? theory.RationalesR?ti?n?l?? ?x?l?in the positioning ?f ?ut??m?? within a theory of change: i.e., th? r????n? why a giv?n ?ut??m? is d???nd?nt on ?n? or m ?r? ?th?r ?ut??m??, ?r “?r???nditi?n?”.M?ving t? M?nit?ring and EvaluationT??ting th??ri?? ?f ?h?ng? thr?ugh m?nit?ring ?nd ?v?lu?ti?n ??n furnish ??w?rful evidence of th? ?u????? ?r failure ?f initi?tiv??. C?u?ling m?nit?ring and ?v?lu?ti?n t? Th??r? ?f Change can bring a b?tt?r und?r?t?nding ?f h?w t? im?r?v? th? design ?nd im?l?m?nt?ti?n ?f ?ng?ing initiatives, ?nd h?w to ???l? initiatives u? or ?ut.Th??r? of Ch?ng? ??n b?gin ?t ?n? stage before, during, and ?ft?r th? lifetime ?f an initi?tiv?, d???nding on th? int?nd?d use. A th??r? i? developed ?t th? ?ut??t is b??t ?t inf?rming the conceptualization ?nd planning ?f ?n initiative. A? m?nit?ring ?nd ?v?lu?ti?n data b???m? ?v?il?bl?, stakeholders ??n ??ri?di??ll? r?fin? the Th??r? of Ch?ng? b???d ?n ?vid?n??.A Th??r? of Ch?ng? ??n also b? d?v?l???d retrospectively b? r??ding ?r?gr?m documents, t?lking t? stakeholders ?nd u?ing m?nit?ring ?nd evaluation d?t?. This is ?ft?n d?n? during ?v?lu?ti?n? or f?r a reflective process of l??rning ?b?ut wh?t h?? w?rk?d and why, in ?rd?r t? understand the ???t and to plan for th? futur?.A??um?ti?n?On? ?f th? many important and valuable aspects ?f Th??r? ?f Ch?ng? i? in ?h?ll?nging stakeholders to make ?x?li?it the ???um?ti?n? (?nd risks) involved in a particular initi?tiv?.The ?r????? ?f id?ntif?ing ?l??r outcomes ?nd th?ir preconditions inv?lv?? ?n ?l?b?r?ti?n of the r????n? wh? the gr?u? think? th? th??r? will w?rk in ?r??ti??.A??um?ti?n? may b? based on the ?m?iri??l kn?wl?dg? of expert practitioners ?r on r????r?h ?vid?n??. A??um?ti?n? ??m? in ?t l???t thr?? forms:Th? ??u??l fr?m?w?rk ?f ?r???nditi?n? and ??tiviti?? leading t? l?ng-t?rm ?ut??m?? and impact r??r???nt? a ??t ?f ???um?ti?n? th?t und?rli? th? choice ?f ?r???nditi?n? ?nd th? ?rd?r in whi?h th?? appear in th? ??thw??.Th? ????ifi? relationships drawn b?tw??n outcomes in a ??thw?? r??t ?n ???um?ti?n?. A??um?ti?n? ?f this t??? m?? relate t? wh? th? group think? ?n? ?ut??m? i? a ?r???nditi?n t? another. Th ?? may ?l?? r?l?t? to th? specific ?h?i?? and ?l???m?nt ?f ??tiviti?? within a ??u??l pathway. A??um?ti?n? ?f thi? t??? ?r? im?li?it in th? di?gr?m but ?r? b??t m?d? ?x?li?it thr?ugh articulation. A?tKn?wl?dg? terms ???um?ti?n? of thi? type ?? “rationales.” Rationales ?x?l?in the l?gi? of specific ?ut??m? ?r???nditi?n relationships ?nd/?r th? logic of why ????ifi? activities are n??d?d at given ??int? ?f th? change process.Assumptions m?? b? m?d? ?b?ut th? ??nt?xt or ?nvir?nm?nt within which th? initi?tiv? will ???r?t?. A??um?ti?n? of thi? t??? inv?lv? beliefs ?b?ut ??nditi?n? th?t ?xi?t in th? ??nt?xt/?nvir?nm?nt which ?r? critical t? the th??r?. A? an example, ?r???n?nt? ?f ?n ?m?l??m?nt tr?ining ?r?gr?m m?? assume j?b? will be ?v?il?bl? in th? ???u??ti?n? f?r which ????l? ?r? being tr?in?d. If that assumption should ?r?v? false, th?n the goal ?f getting people int? good j?b? will n?t b? m?t. A??um?ti?n? of this type are best made explicit as ?r???nditi?n? within th? ??thw??: in this ?x?m?l?, “j?b? are available” ?? a ?r???nditi?n will t??t that ???um?ti?n.A??um?ti?n? ?f ?ll t???? are im?li?it in th? ?rr?ng?m?nt ?f ?ut??m?? in th? ??thw??, ?nd ?h?uld ?l?? be made explicit, giving r?ti?n?l?? for ????ifi? ??u??l ??nn??ti?n?, ?nd in writing th? n?rr?tiv?.Ex???ing assumptions inv?lv?? a ??rt?in ri?k. Pr?gr?m? often fail b? one ?r m?r? measures. Theories of ?h?ng? m?k? the expected h?w ?nd wh?? ?f ?h?ng? ?r??????? ?x?li?it, ?nd th? ?l??r?r one ??n b? in ?utlining a ?h?ng? ?r?????, the greater th? risk th?t f?ilur?? ??n b? attributable to the initi?tiv?. In m?r? traditional ???r???h?? to social ?h?ng?, th? w?rk has rested on its m?r?l v?lu? r?th?r than ?n m???ur?? ?f ?ff??tiv?n???.F?ilur? in th??? ????? i? b?th m?r? lik?l? and less attributable t? th? ?hil?nthr??i? ?ff?rt. Without a clear ?h?ng? m?d?l, r??ult? ?r? abstracted fr?m the specifics of th? initi?tiv?; r??ult? ?r? n?t monitored, and failures ?nd ?u??????? ??nn?t ???il? b? ti?d t? th? effort.With theory-based initi?tiv??, th? ????ifi?? ?r? all l?id ?ut, results ?r? m???ur?d, and failures ?r? easier t? id?ntif? ?nd ?v?lu?t?. Th? m?r? ?x?li?it th? th??r?, in?luding all it? ???um?ti?n?, th? m?r? f?ilur? can be ti?d t? mi?t?k?n assumptions.D???it? thi? risk, Th??r? ?f Change in?r????? the chance ?f ?u?t?in?d ?u?????. F?ilur? in reaching g??l? i? ?lm??t gu?r?nt??d in th? absence of a ?l??rl? d?v?l???d model ?f ?h?ng?. F?ilur?? in the ??nt?xt ?f a Theory of Change can b? ????rtuniti?? t? learn from th? ?x??ri?n??, recalibrate, ?nd r?turn to th? fi?ld with m?r? ?ff??tiv? int?rv?nti?n?.Theory of Ch?ng? ?ll?w? ?r???n?nt? and ?t?k?h?ld?r? the means to continually challenge th?ir ???um?ti?n? and, in doing ??, r?fin? and sharpen th?ir ?tr?t?gi?? for gr??t?r success. In considering a giv?n ?ut??m?, ?n? might ??k “Wh?t w?uld h????n if this ?ut??m? d??? n?t ??m? about?” If it? absence l??v?? a hole in the logic, or points t? a “mi??ing middl?” where th? ?ut??m? ??thw?? ???m? t? t?k ? a leap over n??????r? ?t???, ??u will have id?ntifi?d a g?? in th? model.Y?u will n??d to w?rk t? understand and id?ntif? what i? necessary to fill in th? mi??ing ?t???.NarrativeTh? n?rr?tiv? i? a ?umm?r? ?f th? th??r? th?t ?x?l?in? th? ?v?r?ll logic, highlight? major ???um?ti?n?, ?nd ?r???nt? a ??m??lling ???? ?? t? h?w ?nd wh? the initi?tiv? is ?x???t?d t? work. Th? purpose ?f th? n?rr?tiv? is tw?f?ld:t? ??nv?? th? m?j?r ?l?m?nt? ?f th? th??r? ???il? and ?ui?kl? t? ?th?r?;t? communicate how the elements ?f th? theory w?rk ?? a whole.The narrative i? natural ??m??ni?n to the vi?u?l ?l?m?nt? of the th??r? ?? th?? r?inf?r?? ???h ?th?r.WH? USES A THEORY ?F ?H?NG??“Theory ?f change is a d?n?mi?, ?riti??l thinking ?r?????, it m?k?? the initi?tiv? clear and tr?n???r?nt it und?r?in? ?tr?t?gi? planning. It i? d?v?l???d in a ??rti?i??t?r? way ?v?r tim?, f?ll?wing a logical ?tru?tur? th?t is rig?r?u? ?nd ????ifi?, ?nd th?t ??n m??t a quality test b? th? ?t?k?h?ld?r. Th? t?rmin?l?g? i? n ot im??rt?nt, it i? ?b?ut bu?ing int? th? ?riti??l thinking”. Helene Cl?rk, ActKnowledge A wid? range of organisations in int?rn?ti?n?l development ?r? u?ing ‘theory of change’ t??? ???r???h??. Figur? 1 ?h?w? th? ?rg?ni??ti?n? th?t w?r? identified thr?ugh thi? r?vi?w, building ?n th??? identified earlier in the C?mi? R?li?f r?vi?w. N? d?ubt there ?r? m?n? other ?rg?ni??ti?n? u?ing similar ???r???h??.‘Th??r? of ?h?ng? seems to be ?t a tipping point. Thr?? key driv?r? ?????r to h?v? ??ntribut?d t? th? m?in?tr??ming ?f th??r? ?f change thinking:R??ult? ?g?nd?: This i? driving th? need t? d?m?n?tr?t? im???t, especially in diffi?ult ?r??? lik? g?v?rn?n??. Ev?lu?ti?n h?? ??m? to the fore ?? th? demand f?r ?vid?n?? ?f r??ult? and th? ?ttributi?n ?f ?ff??t? t? ?r?gr?mm??’ influ?n?? is ??ught, ?? a means t? understand im???t ?nd h?w th?t might b? ??hi?v?d ?l??wh?r?. Transparency r??uir?? th? ju?tifi??ti?n for d??i?i?n-m?king around ?r?gr?mm?? t? b? m?d? more ?x?li?it.C?m?l?xit?: In t?n?i?n with the drive f?r m?r? ???ur?n?? ?f r??ult?, th?r? i? a growing recognition of th? ??m?l?xiti??, ?mbiguiti?? ?nd un??rt?inti?? ?f development work, inv?lving complex political and social ?h?ng? in d?n?mi? ??untr? ??nt?xt?. Th??r? ?f ?h?ng? thinking is vi?w?d ?? ?n? ???r???h t? help ????l? d??l ???itiv?l? with the challenges ?f ??m?l?xit?.C?untr?-?wn?d d?v?l??m?nt: The ?m?h??i? ?n ??untr? ?wn?r?hi? in d?v?l??m?nt cooperation is f??u?ing ?tt?nti?n on supporting country ?r?gr?mm??, collaborating ?nd inn?v?ting with local ??t?r?, in?tituti?n? ?nd local ?????iti??, ?? w?ll as r????nding t? new configurations ?f development actors. Theory ?f ?h?ng? thinking i? vi?w?d ?? ?n??ur?ging realistic ?nd politically inf?rm?d m???ing? of contexts, actors ?nd ?????iti?? f?r im???t.Ov?r th? l??t five ???r?, th??r? ?f ?h?ng? ???r???h?? have m?v?d into th? m?in?tr??m in international d?v?l??m?nt.A r???nt review ?n the u?? ?f th??r? ?f ?h?ng? in int?rn?ti?n?l d?v?l??m?nt b? C?mi? R?li?f h?? b? ?n v?r? h?l?ful in ?h?ring and ??n??lid?ting experience that u? to now h?? b??n locked within ?rg?ni??ti?n? and opening u? th? di??u??i?n t? ????l? w?rking ?n ?r?gr?mm?? who ?r? n?t ?v?lu?t?r? (J?m?? 2011).Thi? r?vi?w aims t? build on thi? strong f?und?ti?n.HOW TO CREATE A THEORY OF CHANGE 1. Plan ??ur ?r?????Before ??u ?t?rt d?v?l??ing your theory ?f ?h?ng?, it’s im??rt?nt t? think ??r?full? ?b?ut wh? ??u’r? d?ing it ?nd how you will g? ?b?ut it. Y?u should consider:Wh? will use the th??r? ?f ?h?ng? and what f?r.Wh?th?r ??u n??d a ?im?l? change m?d?l ?r a m?r? d?t?il?d, complex one.H?w mu?h time ??ur ?rg?ni??ti?n can commit t? th? ?r?????.Whi?h individual or t??m in your organisation will l??d th? work, and wh?th?r you will involve ?n ?xt?rn?l ??n?ult?nt. H?ving a ??n?ult?nt to run a th??r? ?f change development workshop ??n b? h?l?ful, as it ?ll?w? all ?t?ff t? participate (rather th?n f??ilit?ting). A consultant ??n ?l?? bring a helpful ?xt?rn?l ??r????tiv?, but bear in mind th?t th?? d?n’t kn?w ??ur ?rg?ni??ti?n’? w?rk ?? well ?? you, so ??u will need to spend time bri?fing th?m ?nd r?vi?wing th?ir w?rk.H?w ??u will inv?lv? your ?t?k?h?ld?r?: staff, v?lunt??r?, tru?t???, b?n?fi?i?ri?? and ??rtn?r? may ?ll offer u??ful perspectives. Involving a mixed group ?f ?t?k?h?ld?r? ??n increase cross-group und?r?t?nding. H?w?v?r, it m?? b? h?rd t? m?n?g? a w?rk?h?? with ?ll ?t?k?h?ld?r? so you ??uld think about inv?lving ??m? groups separately.2. Agr?? your int?nd?d im???tTh? main issue ??u ?r? addressing with ??ur work should b? r?fl??t?d in it? ultim?t? resolution â€" thi? is ??ur int?nd?d im???t. Y?ur impact is th? ?t?rting point f?r ??ur theory ?f ?h?ng?, th? g??l t?w?rd? whi?h ?v?r?thing is dir??t?d.Y?ur impact statement ?h?uld clearly d???rib? the broad ?r long-term diff?r?n?? you w?nt t? see h????n.You m?? ?l?? w?nt t? think ?b?ut h?w ??ur im???t statement fits in with l???l strategic ?ri?riti?? or funding ?r?gr?mm??, so th?t ??u ??n ?l??? ??ur work in a wider ??nt?xt.Thi? could inv?lv? looking f?r relevant research or id?ntif?ing ??nn??ti?n? between ??ur w?rk ?nd th??? broader ?ri?riti??.3. Articulate your l?ng-t?rm outcomesN?xt, work b??kw?rd? from ??ur im???t t? think ?b?ut the changes th?t n??d t? h????n in ?rd?r t? achieve it. Y?u m?? b? ?bl? t? id?ntif? th??? b? thinking ?b?ut the ??u??? ?f th? main i??u? ??u ?r? tr?ing to ?ddr??? with ??ur w?rk.F?r ?x?m?l?, if one element of th? problem ?f youth unemployment i? that young ????l? become di???ur?g?d ?nd de-motivated by th?ir ?x??ri?n?? of l??king for w?rk, your th??r? may ?ugg??t d?v?l??ing a stronger ??n?? of th?ir ??t?nti?l ?l??? in a w?rking ?nvir?nm?nt.In order t? d? th?t, young people should gain some ?x??ri?n?? ?f w?rk ?l???m?nt?. Therefore, ‘??ung ????l? in?r???? th?ir job-specific skills ?nd ?x??ri?n??’ b???m?? ?n? of ??ur l?ng-t?rm ?ut??m??.A? ??u develop ??ur l?ng-t?rm outcomes, it m?? be h?l?ful t? think ?b?ut th? diff?r?nt areas in which ?h?ng? ??uld occur.Ch anges f?r individuals might be in their:situation (?.g. h?u?ing, ?m?l??m?nt)w?llb?ing (e.g. m?nt?l ?r ?h??i??l heath)behaviour (?.g. inv?lv?m?nt in ?rim?, drug u??)?ttitud?? ?nd feelings (e.g. h?w people feel about th?m??lv?? or others)?kill? ?nd abilities (e.g. ??mmuni??ti?n ?kill? or ?bilit? t? work under ?r???ur?)r?l?ti?n?hi?? (?.g. with peers, f?mil? ?r ?t w?rk)Other ?h?ng?? might b? ???n in:policy (e.g. changes in immigration law)?nvir?nm?nt (e.g.better ?????? t? gr??n ??????)??rvi??? (?.g. new services ?r ??rvi??? delivered in different w???)w??? of w?rking (?.g. n?w partnerships d?v?l???d)social n?rm? (?.g.kn?wl?dg?, ?ttitud??, v?lu?? ?r behaviours).Pr????? ?f Creating a Th??r? ?f ChangeAn im??rt?nt fir?t step in the process i? identifying a w?rk?bl? long-term goal and ?ut??m??. The l?ng-t?rm outcome ?h?uld be ??m?thing the initi?tiv? ??n realistically achieve ?nd th?t ?v?r??n? involved understands. A tr?in?d ?xt?rn?l f??ilit?t?r i? best t? lead the gr?u? to ??n??n?u? ?nd ??? ?ifi?it? in this process.On?? identified, th? gr?u? then ??n?id?r?, “What ?ut??m?? mu?t be br?ught b?f?r? w? can achieve th? l?ng term outcome?” These ?ut??m??â€"?h?rt?r t?rm preconditions t? the long-term ?ut??m?â€"?r? then ?l???d dir??tl? und?rn??th the l?ng-t?rm outcome.Th? process continues, drilling d?wn th? ??thw?? by posing fundamental questions, ?u?h as: “Wh?t has to b? in ?l??? f?r thi? outcome t? be ??hi?v?d?” and “Ar? th??? ?r???nditi?n? ?uffi?i?nt f?r the ?ut??m? t? b? achieved?”In th??? sessions, participants m?? u?? m?rk?r?, ?ti?k? n?t??, and ?h?rt ????r to identify and ?rg?niz? ?ut??m??, ?urf??? ???um?ti?n?, d?v?l?? indi??t?r?, and ?? on.Th? messy group work i? then u?u?ll? captured b? th? facilitator in digit?l form, wh?r? the content can b? ?x??nd?d, ?dit?d, printed, shared, ?nd ?th?rwi?? managed ?? the th??r? continues to be developed.4. M?? ??ur int?rm?di?t? ?ut??m?? b??kw?rd?N?xt, w?rk b??kw?rd? ?nd ?l?t th? ?r???ding ?t?g?? in much greater detail. Y? u will n??d t? ??n?id?r what ?h?ng?? need to h????n b?f?r? your long-term ?ut??m?? ??n ???ur.On?? you h?v? d?fin?d ??ur outcomes, you can show the ?rd?r in whi?h th?? will ???ur. For ???h ?ut??m?, think about what ?h?ng? will be n??d?d b?f?r? it ??n happen, ?nd if ?nd how it r?l?t?? t? other ?h?ng??.5. Id?ntif? ?ut?ut?You ?r? n?w ready t? start thinking ?b?ut wh?t ??rvi??? ?nd ?ut?ut? will h?l? ??u t? bring ?b?ut th? ?ut??m?? ??u h?v? id?ntifi?d.F?r a new ?i??? ?f w?rk, thi? will involve thinking ?r??tiv?l? ?b?ut th? outputs th?t will be m??t effective in bringing about your desired ?ut??m??, ?nd when th?? ?r? b??t delivered. T? help with thi?, ??u ??uld consider th? outcomes ??u h??? will ???ur thr?ugh your work, th?n review external research t? see wh?t kinds ?f outputs h?v? br?ught ?b?ut ?ut??m??.If ??u are creating a theory ?f ?h?ng? f?r ?n ?xi?ting ?r?j??t, ?l?t ??ur existing ??tiviti?? ?nd ?ut?ut?. Thi? is a g??d ?h?n?? t? discuss h?w w?ll outputs ?r? d?liv?ring your ?nti?i??t ?d ?ut??m?? ?nd m?? l??d t? some revision ?f wh?t ??u d?, and how you do it.Remember th?t some outputs will inv?lv? ??ll?b?r?ti?n with ?th?r agencies and some ?ut??m?? may ?nl? b? ??hi?v?d if other services are ?l?? inv?lv?d in some w??, so these contact ??int? ?r j?int activities will n??d to b? ?h?rt?d ?? ??rt ?f ??ur theory.6. Cl?rif? assumptionsNext, document any assumptions ??u m?? h?v? made ?? you have been setting out ??ur theory ?f ?h?ng?. Y?u are lik?l? t? have m?d? ???um?ti?n? ?b?ut:Th? links between outputs and th? ?ut??m?? they are expected to ?r?du??Th? ??nn??ti?n? b?tw??n th? l?ng-t?rm, intermediate ?nd ??rl? ?ut??m??Th? contextual ?r ?nvir?nm?nt?l f??t?r? th?t m?? influence wh?th?r ?ut??m?? ?r? ??hi?v?d.It i? im??rt?nt t? identify ???um?ti?n? ??u h?v? m?d? because:They will h?l? ??u identify some ?f the ?riti??l f??t?r? that will affect the success of your Work â€" ??u may need t? monitor th???Th?? will h?l? ??u shape h?w ??u d?liv?r your ??rvi??? t? h?l? ??u m?ximi?? ??ur im???tYou can t??t ?ut th? ???um?ti?n? ?? ??rt of ??ur ?v?lu?ti?n.Wh?n ??u ?r? d?v?l??ing th? first ?l?m?nt? of your th??r? and putting f?rw?rd assumptions, it m?? b? useful to b??? these ?n ?xi?ting lit?r?tur?, ?xi?ting practice ?r expert kn?wl?dg?.On th? ?th?r hand, ??u m?? be t??ting a completely n?w way ?f d?ing ??m?thing ?nd thi? ?h?uld be ?l??r in your theory.7. E?t?bli?h timelines ?nd ?l?n r???ur???Write in tim?lin?? in your accompanying notes for wh?n ??u expect to ??? the activities ?nd ?ut?ut? happen. Thi? ?h?uld shape ?x???t?ti?n? of what can b? m?nit?r?d ?nd wh?n and will h?l? in ?l?nning r?vi?w ?nd evaluation tim?t?bl??.If ??u think thr?ugh th? activities associated with th? d?liv?r? of your ?ut?ut?, this will help ??u t? ?l?n the r???ur??? you will need ?nd to ??t a budg?t f?r th? int?rv?nti?n.Remember to bring to th? surface ???um?ti?n? ?b?ut th? ?m?unt of staff and v?lunt??r tim? th?t will be n??d?d or ?b?ut th? level ?f ?kill? th?t will be n??????r? ?nd ?v?il? bl? t? you f?r d?liv?ring th? intervention.When ??u evaluate, one ?u??ti?n t? ??n?id?r may b? wh?th?r appropriate r???ur??? w?r? ?l?nn?d and d?liv?r?d.8. G?t r??d? to u?? ??ur th??r? ?f ?h?ng?Now ??u’v? ?r??t?d ??ur theory ?f ?h?ng?, d?n’t f?rg?t t? use it. A theory ??n help you to ?l?n your ?r?j??t ?r f??d into ??ur organisation’s ?tr?t?g?. It can ?l?? h?l? ??u t? ??mmuni??t? ?u??in?tl? ?b?ut ??ur w?rk and the ?h?ng? it m?k??.If ??u want to go on t? ?v?lu?t? ??ur work, you can use ??ur th??r? t? help you d?v?l?? a m?nit?ring and ?v?lu?ti?n fr?m?w?rk which id?ntifi?? what inf?rm?ti?n ??u will collect.BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH THEORY OF CHANGE IN PROGRAMMESInt?rvi?w??? g?v? a number ?f r????n? ?nd ?x???t?d b?n?fit? b?hind th?ir ?urr?nt interest in theory ?f change as an ???r???h, in?luding:Understanding th? ??nt?xt ?nd ?itu?ti?n ?? a starting ??int for ?l?nning programmes, bringing ?riti??l thinking t? b??r ?n th? assumptions around a programme, t? m?k? the vi?w? ?n h?w the ?r?g r?mm? is ?x???t?d to work tr?n???r?nt.To h?l? m?v? b???nd ‘bu?in??? ?? u?u?l’, g?n?ri? programme designs through a gr??t?r ?w?r?n??? of th? context.D?v?l??ing a ??mm?n und?r?t?nd of the w?rk and ?urf??ing differences in perspective in a ???itiv? way.Str?ngth?ning th? clarity, effectiveness and f??u? of ?r?gr?mm??.More fl?xibl? alternative t? w?rking with l?g-fr?m?? f?r ??m?l?x ?r?gr?mm?? and ??nt?xt?.U?ing th??r? of ?h?ng? ?? a fr?m?w?rk from whi?h t? ?????? impact and improve m?nit?ring and evaluation, to test th? ???um?ti?n?, demonstrate im???t and learn from it.Im?r?ving r?l?ti?n?hi?? with ??rtn?r? ?nd ?t?k?h?ld?r? b? id?ntif?ing ????rtuniti?? f?r di?l?gu? and ??ll?b?r?ti?n.Pr?viding a unif?ing framework f?r strategic d??i?i?n-m?king, ??mmuni??ting ?nd r???rting.W?nting t? h?v? a ?l??r?r ??n???tu?li??ti?n of ‘im???t’ and und?r?t?nding th? intermediate changes th?t h?v? significance for programmes ?nd stakeholders, t? ?n?bl? strategies t? b? ??timi??d for the context.Str?n gth?ning ?d??tiv? m?n?g?m?nt, responsiveness to ?h?ng?? in th? ??nt?xt.Looking to find new w??? of bringing rigour t? th? ?v?lu?ti?n of complex and ?m?rg?nt ?h?ng? in difficult ?r??? like governance.Th??? different r????n? highlight how theory ?f change thinking can be ???li?d ?t different ?t?g?? thr?ugh th? ?r?gr?mm? ???l?.Whether th??? benefits ?r? b?ing r??li??d is too ??rl? t? t?ll ?nd ?h?uld b? balanced with the ??n??rn? expressed b? ?ll int?rvi?w??? ?b?ut staffing ??n?tr?int? ?nd time pressures.D???it? thi?, m??t int?rvi?w??? seem t? ?x??ri?n?? th??r? ?f ?h?ng? thinking ?? an ?n?rgi?ing ?nd m?tiv?ting way to think ?b?ut th?ir ?r?gr?mm??.Theory ?f change is u??d ?? ?n int?gr?t?d ?r?j??t ???l? planning ?nd m?nit?ring and evaluation fr?m?w?rk ?r ???li?d ?t diff?r?nt ??int?.Th??? in?lud? th? ?r?-?l?nning stages of ????ing and ?tr?t?gi? ?n?l??i?, d??ign ?nd ?l?nning, ?nd throughout implementation.It ??n b? u??d t? ?u???rt diff?r?nt project ???l? ??tiviti??, such as im?l?m?nt?ti?n d ??i?i?n-m?king ?nd adaptation; t? clarify the drivers, int?rn?l ?nd external, ?r?und ?n ?xi?ting initi?tiv?; monitor progress ?nd ?????? im???t.THEORY OF CHANGE EXAMPLESFiv?r Children’s Foundation (2013)Thi? is a v?r? recent ?x?m?l? ?f a th??r? ?f ?h?ng? developed b? Fiv?r Children’s F?und?ti?n with ActKnowledge, whi?h ?r?vid? a key f?und?ti?n for ?v?lu?ti?n, ??mmuni??ti?n, ?l?nning, ?rg?niz?ti?n and staff d?v?l??m?ntThe Hung?r Pr?j??t (2011)Th??? are ?x?m?l?? ?f th? Th??r? ?f Change d?v?l???d b? the Hunger Project f?r it? work in g?n?r?l ?nd f?r it? ?r?gr?m in Afri??.Building C?mmunit? S?h??l?: A Guide f?r Action (2011)Prepared b? th? N?ti?n?l Center for C?mmunit? S?h??l?, this i? a ??m?r?h?n?iv? guide ?n building ?nd ?u?t?ining ??mmunit? ??h??l?. It in?lud?? an ????ndix by Dr.H?lén? Cl?rk on Th??r? ?f Ch?ng? basics f?r community schoolsS?m?l? Outcome f?r S?h??l ReadinessThis i? a ??m?l? ?f a Theory of Ch?ng? m?? f?r a school r??din??? programTHEORY OF CHANGE MISTAKES TO AVOID Confusing ????unt?bilit? with h???: A th??r? of ?h?ng? must ?l?rif? wh?t r??ult? a non-profit will hold it??lf accountable f?r achieving; in ?th?r w?rd?, what results must it deliver t? be ?u?????ful. D?fining r??ult? in this w?? will f?r?? ??ur ?rg?niz?ti?n t? get r??l ?b?ut the im???t ??u ?r? ?igning up t? ?r??t?, not ju?t wh?t ??u h??? will h????n. While dr??ming big and setting lofty goals, ?u?h as ending w?rld hung?r, ??n in??ir? your stakeholders, these ?r? b?tt?r l?ft f?r your mission ?t?t?m?nt rather th?n ??ur theory ?f change.Creating a mirror in?t??d of a target: A g??d th??r? of ?h?ng? doesn’t simply r?fl??t wh?t ?n ?rg?niz?ti?n is already doing; r?th?r, it articulates what th? ?rg?niz?ti?n wants t? b? h?ld ????unt?bl? f?r, ?nd works b??kw?rd to identify n??????r? ??tiviti??, ?tr?t?gi??, r???ur???, ????biliti??, ?ultur?, ?nd so on. If ??ur theory ?f ?h?ng? w?rk h??n’t l?d you t? ?r????? ?n? ?h?ng?? to these elements, ??u ?r?b?bl? h?v?n’t taken a h?rd ?n?ugh l??k.F?i ling to take th? ?xt?rn?l ??nt?xt into ????unt: Th? b??t th??ri?? ?f change explicitly int?gr?t? the ?nti?i??t?d ??ti?n? ?f r?gul?t?r?, the w?rk of ???r organizations, ?x???t?d ?h?ng?? in th? ???n?mi? climate, ?nd ?th?r factors. F?r example, if ??u ?r? battling h?m?l???n??? in a community, knowing th?t a coalition i? ???n forming to triage and ???rdin?t? th? ??tiviti?? of ?r?vid?r? may l??d you t? think diff?r?ntl? about what ??tiviti?? you d?liv?r ?nd what results are achievable. A d??? und?r?t?nding ?f th? ?xt?rn?l ??nt?xt will help ??u ?r??t? a m?r? r??li?ti? th??r? ?f ?h?ng?.Not confirming th? ?l?u?ibilit? of your theory: While int?rn?l di?l?gu? i? a ??mm?n ?t?rting ??int for th??r? ?f ?h?ng? d?v?l??m?nt, the ?r????? ?h?uld not ??n?lud? without a ??n??rt?d ?ff?rt t? verify whether ??ur “theory” i? ?l?u?ibl?. C?n?id?r th? example ?f FIRST, a n?n?r?fit? th?t inspires ??ung people t? b???m? science ?nd t??hn?l?g? l??d?r? thr?ugh h?nd?-?n, m?nt?r-b???d programs. The ?rg?niz?ti?n ’? r???nt effort to refine it? th??r? ?f ?h?ng? in?lud?d a thorough “literature r?vi?w” ?f k?? ?v?lu?ti?n ?tudi?? and meta-analyses to d?t?rmin? what it takes t? g?t youth into ??i?n?? ?nd t??hn?l?g? m?j?r?; discussions with ?v?lu?t?r? ?nd ???d?mi?? t? assess wh?th?r FIRST’s ??tiviti?? were sufficient t? g?n?r?t? its ?r?????d results; and r?vi?w? ?f qualitative data fr?m m?nt?r?, ????h??, ?nd ?lumni to understand what w?? m??t v?lu?d by th? ?rg?niz?ti?n’? ??n?titu?nt?. Th?ugh th??? ?ff?rt? t??k tim?, th?? helped FIRST ??rf??t th?ir ?r?gr?m model and ?r?gr?m d?liv?r? ?r??ti??? in ?dv?n?? ?f im?l?m?nting ?h?ng??.Cr??ting a th??r? th?t i?n’t measurable: T? b? able to t??t, r?fin?, ?nd im?r?v? ??ur th??r? ?f ?h?ng? ?v?r tim?, ??u n??d t? b? ?bl? t? measure it? key elements. A ??mm?n w?? t? ???r?ti?n?liz? ??ur th??r? of change is t? get ????ifi?â€"?rti?ul?t? the in?ut, ?ut?ut, and ?ut??m? indi??t?r? the th??r? of change ?ugg??t? ??u ?h?uld tr??k (also kn?wn ?? creating a “l ogic m?d?l”). If ??u ??n’t ??tu?ll? g?th?r th??? indi??t?r? at th? right frequencies to learn what’s working, ??u m?? n?t b? ????if?ing ??ur th??r? ?f ?h?ng? at a d??? ?n?ugh l?v?l (f?r ?x?m?l?, ??u m?? n??d to d?fin? int?rm?di?t? outcomes th?t are ?r?di?tiv? of l?ng?r-t?rm ???ir?ti?n?).A??uming you’ve figur?d it ?ll ?ut: T? g?t the most ?ut of ??ur th??r? ?f change, ??u n??d t? r???gniz? ?nd ?x?li?itl? account for th? un??rt?inti?? th?t und?rli? ??ur plan. Learning organizations carefully specify their ???um?ti?n?, r?gul?rl? r?fl??t ?n wh?th?r th??? assumptions ?r? b??ring ?ut, ?nd ??n?id?r what new assumptions th?? might t??t to further improve impact. One ?im?l? but ??w?rful m??h?ni?m t? accomplish this i? t? create a “l??rning ?g?nd?”â€"? ?im?l? li?t ?f assumptions ?nd h???th???? that ??ur ?rg?niz?ti?n ??n t??t ?t ??m? frequency. A l??rning agenda can help ensure th?t ??ur ?rg?niz?ti?n’? th??r? ?f ?h?ng? i? constantly revisitedCONCLUSIONTh??r? ?f Ch?ng? is essentia lly a ??m?r?h?n?iv? d???ri?ti?n ?nd illu?tr?ti?n ?f h?w ?nd why a desired ?h?ng? i? ?x???t?d t? happen in a particular ??nt?xt. It is f??u??d in ??rti?ul?r ?n mapping out or “filling in” wh?t h?? been d???rib?d ?? the “missing middl?” between what a ?r?gr?m ?r change initi?tiv? d??? (its activities ?r interventions) ?nd how th??? l??d to d??ir?d g??l? b?ing ??hi?v?d.It d??? this b? fir?t identifying th? desired l?ng-t?rm g??l? and th?n works b??k from th??? t? identify ?ll th? conditions (?ut??m??) th?t mu?t be in place (?nd h?w th??? r?l?t?d t? one ?n?th?r ??u??ll?) f?r th? g??l? to ???ur. Th??? are ?ll m????d out in an Outcomes Framework.Th? Out??m?? Fr?m?w?rk th?n ?r?vid?? the b??i? f?r id?ntif?ing wh?t t??? of ??tivit? ?r int?rv?nti?n will lead t? the ?ut??m?? identified ?? ?r???nditi?n? for ??hi?ving th? long-term g??l.Thr?ugh this ???r???h th? ?r??i?? link b?tw??n ??tiviti?? and th? ??hi?v?m?nt of the l?ng-t?rm g??l? are more full? understood.This l??d? t? b?tt?r ?l?nn ing, in th?t ??tiviti?? ?r? link?d t? a d?t?il?d und?r?t?nding ?f how change ??tu?ll? happens. It ?l?? leads t? b?tt?r evaluation, ?? it is ????ibl? t? measure progress t?w?rd? the ??hi?v?m?nt ?f l?ng?r-t?rm g??l? th?t g??? beyond th? identification of program outputs.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)Wh?t is Theory of Change?A Th??r? of Ch?ng? i? a specific ?nd m???ur?bl? d???ri?ti?n of a social ?h?ng? initi?tiv? th?t f?rm? the b??i? for ?tr?t?gi? ?l?nning, ?n-g?ing decision-making and ?v?lu?ti?n.The m?th?d?l?g? used t? ?r??t? a Th??r? ?f Change is ?l?? u?u?ll? r?f?rr?d t? ?? Th??r? of Change, or the Th??r? ?f Ch?ng? ???r???h ?r m?th?d. So, wh?n ??u h??r “Theory of Change”, you m?? m??n ?ith?r th? ?r????? ?r th? r??ult.Lik? ?n? good ?l?nning ?nd ?v?lu?ti?n m?th?d for ???i?l change, it requires ??rti?i??nt? to be ?l??r on long-term g??l?, id?ntif? m???ur?bl? indi??t?r? of ?u?????, ?nd formulate actions t? ??hi?v? g??l?.It diff?r? from any ?th?r m?th?d ?f d???ribing initi?tiv?? in a f?w w???:It shows a ??u??l ??thw?? from h?r? t? th?r? by specifying wh?t i? n??d?d f?r goals t? b? ??hi?v?d (?.g. ??u might ?rgu? that children attending ??h??l a minimum number ?f d??? i? necessary if th?? ?r? g?ing t? learn).It requires ??u to ?rti?ul?t? underlying ???um?ti?n? which can be t??t?d and m???ur?d.It ?h?ng?? the way ?f thinking ?b?ut initiatives fr?m wh?t ??u ?r? d?ing t? wh?t ??u w?nt t? ??hi?v? ?nd starts th?r?.A Th??r? of Change ?r?vid?? a r??dm?? t? g?t ??u fr?m h?r? t? there. If it i? good ?nd complete, ??ur roadmap ??n be r??d by ?th?r? ?nd ?h?w th?t you kn?w how t? chart ??ur course. Thi? i? h?l?ful with constituents, staff, partners organizations ?nd funders.M?r? importantly, if it i? good and ??m?l?t?, ??u h?v? the best chance ?f m?king th? ?h?ng? in the w?rld ??u ??t out t? m?k? and of d?m?n?tr?ting ??ur ?u??????? and your l????n? ?l?ng the way.A Theory of Ch?ng? ??n be th? basis for a R??ult? Fr?m?w?rk ?nd ??n ???il? be ?r??t?d fr?m a L?g frame to d? a g? ? analysis.Everybody i? u?ing the t?rm “Th??r? of ?h?ng?”. D? they m??n th? same thing?No. Pretty mu?h anyone u?ing th? t?rm m??n? that th? initiative h?? a belief about how it w?rk?. But the ?imil?rit? may ?nd th?r?. Some ????l? have a one sentence “theory”, such ?? “youth n??d ??f? ?h??i??l and ????h?l?gi??l ?nvir?nm?nt? in ?rd?r t? learn”.P?rtl? b???u?? ?f th? in??n?i?t?n?? in u??g?, w? developed thi? ?it? to h?l? you develop a th??r? with the necessary l?v?l ?f detail, th?t shows th? necessary conditions n??d?d f?r ?h?ng?, your activities, benchmarks ?f ?h?rt, m?dium ?nd long-term goals, indi??t?r? ?f ?u????? and und?rl?ing b?li?f? and assumptions.Wh? d? all thi? h?rd w?rk? W? kn?w what ?ur mi??i?n i? ?nd w? ?lr??d? have a ??ri?? ?f strategies th?t our Board ?nd funder lik?, ?? wh?t would w? g?t out ?f h?ving a “theory”?Mission ?t?t?m?nt? ?r? n??????ril? r?th?r vague, b???u?? th?? n??d t? be short. They t??i??ll? ?x?r??? th? ?v?r?ll ?hil????h? ?f a project ?nd it s ?ur????. Th?? d? NOT explain h?w t? g?t wh?r? ??u w?nt t? g?: th?? are n?t a roadmap.TOC w?rk? f?r initi?tiv?? th?t ?r? ?lr??d? u? ?nd running ?? a ?h??k ?n the match b?tw??n th? ?tr?t?gi?? th? initiative uses, ?nd its ?bilit? t? m??t its goals. It ??n h?l? ??u d?t?rmin? if your r???ur??? ?r? having the im???t you w?nt, ?nd show ??u ????ifi? areas wh?r? ??u may need t? m?k? mid-??ur?? ??rr??ti?n?.Wh? h?? th? “Th??r? ?f ?h?ng?” A??r???h become ?? ???ul?r”?B???u?? fund?r? h?v? b???m? very ??n??rn?d ?b?ut ??mmunit? buy-in and about accountability. Th??? ?r? tw? of th? r????n?. B? ??king initi?tiv?? they fund to have theories of ?h?ng? th?? ?r? ??king them t? show ?nd justify how ?x??tl? th?? plan t? m??t their goals, and to ?gr?? ?n what will b? considered ?u?????.Al??, the developing a theory u?u?ll? im?li?? g?tting num?r?u? ?t?k?h?ld?r? t? th? t?bl?, ?nd funders have learned that initiatives th?t th? ??mmunit? ?r k?? stakeholders do n?t ?u???rt are not lik?l? t? ?r?du?? ?ut?? m??. And m?n? funders are int?r??t?d in building the ?????it? of th? ??mmunit? ?? a goal in addition to ?n? other d??ir?d ?ut??m??.Be ??r?ful wh?n ??m??n? t?ll? you they have a th??r? ?f ?h?ng?, or a funder ??k? f?r one, that ??u kn?w wh?t THEY m??n.How d? w? kn?w wh?n to St??? How far ?h?uld our theory g??A key t? m?king th? ?r????? th? m??t u??ful ?nd appropriate to an ?rg?niz?ti?n’? needs is to determine the “scope” ?f th? th??r?. (S?? th? “Th??r? ?f Change T??hni??l P???r?”b? D. T??lin, H. Cl?rk, E. C?llin? and D. Colby, under Resources: Publications ?n thi? w?b?it? for more inf?rm?ti?n).S?m?tim??, it i? necessary t? have a very “br??d” th??r?: that is, ????unt f?r ?v?r? precondition f?r ??ur long-term g??l, and ??m?tim?? its important t? h?v? a “deep” theory: work a pathway that ??ur initi?tiv? will b? working ?n all th? b??k t? th? v?r? fir?t ?t?? n??d?d.Oth?r tim??, ?.g. f?r ?v?lu?ti?n, ??u m?? only n??d t? model wh?t ??u are d?ing in a ?umm?r? form. Th?t wi ll allow ?v?lu?ti?n of k?? ?ut??m??, but not ?r?vid? enough d?t?il f?r ?r?gr?mm?ti? d??i?i?n-m?king. H?w far to g? i? ?lw??? a ?rim? ??n?id?r?ti?n wh?n undertaking theory ??n?tru?ti?n.H?w long will it take to develop A theory?Th?r? i? n? ?n? ?n?w?r, but it i? not ??m?thing th?t ??n b? done in a f?w h?ur? ?r a few d???.Th?r? ?r? a f?w steps, and a l?t ?f details. B?ing ????ifi? is one ?f the things th?t m?k?? a th??r? u??ful, ?nd it takes tim? f?r a gr?u? to ?gr?? ?n what th?? mean ?v?r? ?t?? ?f the way.Some gr?u?? have w??kl? ?r regular m??ting? over a few m?nth?.Thi? w?rk? best wh?n a ??r? t??m take responsibility f?r ?utting all th? inf?rm?ti?n together in b?tw??n meetings to present b??k to th? ??rti?i??nt?.