Determining the Impact Question: Influence Method

This second method is very similar to the previous but has the advantage of already distinguishing between the circle of influence and the circle of ambition.

The following points give you guidelines for an exercise that illustrates the influence method:

STEP 1: Make mission and goals explicit.

Since the mission is already contained in the desired impact, this exercise starts with the recalling the mission. This is then translated into concrete objectives, where we continue working with the three most important ones.

STEP 2: Mapping the stakeholders

  • Who is involved in your organisation?
  • Who is involved in your mission?

STEP 3: Formulate a relevant impact question.

  • Based on the chosen organisational goals, write out the desired impact for each stakeholder. What change do you want to see from this stakeholder? Use an action-oriented wording (subject + verb)!
  • For each effect, consider whether your organisation directly influences this desired change, or falls in the broader sphere of ambition instead. Determine where other organisations and factors outside your influence play a part. Based on this exercise, place each effect in the small boxes at the bottom right of the drawing.
  • Which of these desired effects do you want to measure? Again, think about whom you are doing this for. Choose the most interesting/important impact question.