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Governance, Innovation & Change
Change
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Why this matters
[To be drafted]
Shared definitions
Theory of Change is a way of thinking that systematically attempts to map the critical factors — psychological, social, economic, and cultural processes — by which change comes about. If there is an explanatory model of how change happens, it is easier to identify the critical factors that can lead to or determine change and then intervene in them. Working within a Theory of Change framework means thinking strategically about the key components of an activity, project, or programme: its goals and intended impact, its resources and capabilities, and how those resources and capabilities can be mobilised.1)
Theory of Change approaches can be understood across a continuum of purpose, from a precise planning tool at one end through to a reflexive, politically informed approach to development at the other. Four broad categories of purpose have been identified: strategic planning (mapping the change process and expected outcomes), monitoring and evaluation (reviewing progress and revising the theory), description (communicating the change process to partners), and learning (clarifying and developing the theory behind a programme).2)
Perspectives
Actors and stakeholders
Technologies and infrastructure
Institutional structures
Distinctions and overlaps
Related topics
Topic notes
Content notes from source material:
- Source material includes three images from a LinkedIn article (Ann Murray Brown, 2016) comparing Theory of Change with logic models. LinkedIn posts are not citable sources and image licences are unknown — do not use without finding the original published source. The distinction between Theory of Change and logic models is worth capturing if a verifiable source can be found.
- Three merge flags in source: foresight, pathways, electricity network planning. None of these are standalone wiki pages — foresight and pathways content may belong here or in Scenarios and Transition pathways respectively. Electricity network planning is outside this topic's scope.