Theory of Change overview
This is the overview of your Theory of Change. You can see the objective, outcomes, output, actions, context and challenges.
Context
Context encompasses the surrounding conditions that affect your operations. This includes external elements—like economic factors, technological developments, or regulatory changes—that may impact your progress. When you understand your operating environment, you can better navigate changing situations and adapt accordingly.
Challenges
Challenges represent the barriers that need to be addressed throughout your journey. These obstacles influence all aspects of your Theory of Change: from defining your objective to selecting appropriate activities. When you recognize and tackle challenges proactively, your strategy remains pertinent and robust, even when circumstances change unexpectedly.
What important questions does your plan address?
Objective
Your objective outlines the end goal you're working toward and the approach you'll take to get there. An effective objective balances ambition with achievability.
When you clearly define your desired result and the strategy behind it, you establish a solid foundation that guides all subsequent elements of your plan.
Outcomes
Outcomes are the concrete transformations you want to bring about through your work.
These transformations should provide direct solutions to the challenges you're addressing. When you focus on outcomes, you ensure your efforts extend beyond simply completing tasks and actually generate meaningful, quantifiable change.
What important choices do you make to realize the objective?
Output
Output encompasses the specific metrics and tangible results that demonstrate your progress.
While outcomes define the transformation you're seeking, output shows the extent of your advancement. Monitoring these metrics enables you to modify your strategy as circumstances require.
What (intermediate) results do you strive for?
Actions
Actions consist of the specific tasks and initiatives you'll execute to reach your outcomes.
This section outlines the particular steps, programs, or projects you plan to carry out. When you define actions with precision, you strengthen your team's focus and create clear accountability.