Change can feel like looking up at a looming “brick-wall” - an insurmountable challenge! We often end up banging our head, pushing a bit harder, screaming a bit louder – all without any results.
“If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.” Those of us working in community can learn much from the way artists think and approach their own creative processes. This quote by artist Mary Engelbreit, speaks directly to the need to take a step back and have a better look at the brick wall itself. Engelbreit is suggesting that if we reflect on how we think about the brick wall – maybe we can approach it in a completely different way, getting completely different results.
This could be applied to a piece of art, writers block, the troubling behaviour of a child, a social issue, personal development….the list is endless. Opportunities for change are endless.
In 1995, Carol Weiss identified that when people avoid looking at the assumptions around an issue, people get fuzzy and vague in their thinking about how the change will actually happen – they just think of the “now” and the “end result," but not the mini-steps in between. This lack of clarity increasing the likelihood of not reaching the long-term outcome and getting detoured in that big ‘ol area of grey in the middle. Weiss popularized the term “Theory of Change” as an approach to surface the assumptions and then detail the mini-steps of change.
Here is a very simplified example. Let’s say that someone is overweight and out of shape - lifestyle changes can be very hard! This person wants to improve their health, so decides to construct a theory of change to make sure that the strategies they choose align with their assumptions and to help identify the mini-steps to success.
As assumptions are brought to the surface –a strongly held belief is discovered that it takes time to eat healthy. And in reality, what has been happening is that this person is very busy and rushed and usually ends up eating out.
Imagine if the strategy to lose weight was to buy a puppy in order to encourage this person to get out and walk more. While that might be a great strategy for someone else – they would be distracted from the area that has the most potential for change - the issue is really focused on time. Adding an additional task of puppy care would have everyone banging their heads against the wall! On the other hand, practicing the skills of grocery list making, learning how to stock shelves with healthy ingredients, finding resources for quick and easy cooking will help to avoid restaurant eating. After these mini-steps are successful, the puppy might be another strategy (or not!).
While a HUGE simplification, knowing your end result is just not good enough. Unearthing the assumptions that exist behind the issue will help everyone in a change process design the strategies that will make up the mini-steps towards the greater change.
Sometimes it is how we think about an issue that is the key to great change!
Here are some helpful resources to continue exploring the use of Theory of Change with complex community issues.
Theory of Change.org is a collaborative project of the Aspen Institute and ActKnowledge, offering a wide array of resources, tools, tips, and examples of Theory of Change.
Theory of Change: A Practical Tool for Action, Results and Learning from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The Aspen Institute’s Roundtable on Community Change created “The Community Builder’s Approach to Theory of Change,” which is a practical guide for facilitators, including what to do before and during meetings with stakeholders, suggested participants, and recommended materials.
Village Raising Question:
We plan to have a future follow-up blog about the practicalities of using Theory of Change - giving examples of issues and topics that Early Years Community Developers face... and how a theory of change can help.
What are your lingering questions about Theory of Change? Have you used the process successfully?
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