ARTICLE • 5 min
Are you looking to accelerate your sustainability journey?
See how we can help.
See how we can help.
Products
Materiality
Impact MaterialityFinancial MaterialityDouble MaterialityCSRD Double MaterialitySocial Impact
Social ImpactAs you get more familiar with the concept of a Theory of Change, start thinking about how you can create multiple outcome tracks inside your Theory of Change.
Need a refresher? Read our article on getting started with your first Theory of Change.
Remember, a Theory of Change refers to intended consequences using the concept of if-then.
If we deliver this program, then these things will be achieved.
If we keep youth engaged, then we prevent anti-social youth behaviours.
If we provide housing services to the homeless, then we keep vulnerable people off the streets.
Mapping out your Theory of Change is an incredibly powerful tool to visualise the short, medium and long-term intended consequences of a program. We refer to these consequences as outcomes – the change in people’s skills, behaviours, knowledge, attributes and values.
If we deliver this program,
Then we achieve… <<short-term outcome>>
Leading to…<<medium-term outcome>>
Ultimately resulting in… <<long-term outcome>>
A Theory of Change with multiple outcome tracks simply has a series of different if-then statements.
Let’s use our Youth Employment Training Workshop again as our example.
A Youth Employment Training Workshop is delivered each school term, where young people are introduced to local employers and industry training opportunities.
Multiple outcome tracks for the Workshop’s Theory of Change might look like this:
In the Theory of Change map above, we can see that there are three different outcome tracks linked to the Youth Employment Training Workshops, all ultimately resulting in the long-term outcome of securing employment.
If young people attend the Youth Employment Training Workshop,
Then…
Leading to… young people having the opportunity to take on work experience (medium-term outcome)
Leading to… young people enrolling in industry-specific training after finishing school (medium-term outcome)
Leading to… young people having set career goals (medium-term outcome)
Let’s re-visit our football program as the next example.
A local community centre runs youth football matches twice a week during each school term. The intended outcomes of these matches are to keep young people engage, and to cultivate team-building skills.
Multiple outcome tracks for this program’s Theory of Change might look like this:
In the Theory of Change map above, we can see that there are two different outcome tracks linked to the football program, both ultimately resulting in the long-term outcome of achieving positive self-perception.
Does your program have multiple outcome tracks? Have a go at linking up the different outcomes.
Three simple steps to get you started:
Learn out the outcomes that social service organisations are measuring now.
Over 90 public companies and 70 non-profit organizations use Socialsuite for tracking and reporting on their impact. With the help of our ESG software and expert team, businesses can easily get started on impact reporting, disclose faster, and save money compared to traditional methods. Whether you're new to impact reporting or looking to enhance your current practices, Socialsuite offers the tools and expertise needed to achieve your sustainability goals. Contact us to learn more about our solutions.
Whether it’s a public company, a private company, or a charity, Socialsuite has the right solution for you.