Putting Principles in Practice
A good principle can be a source of inspiration and guidance for action and accountability if we know how to develop it.
principles
Systems and Evaluative Thinking
Systems and evaluative thinking are at the core of Principles-Focused Evaluation, and using both can help us think and act better.
Systems and Complexity: Implications for Evaluation
This second in a series on Principles-Focused Evaluation (PFE) draws our attention to the concepts of systems and complexity and how can PFE help us navigate both. Systems (thinking), complexity, and principles all go together. Principles-focused Evaluation (PFE) brings them together in meaningful ways, but to understand that, we first need to understand what we …
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When Strategy Solutions Are Hidden in Plain Sight
The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects provide a perfect example of similarity and difference in strategy, outcome, and impact. Are you tired yet? If you’re reading this in 2022, the answer is probably: “yes.” COVID-19 has tested humanity’s collective ability to adapt and strategize collectively. The Omicron variant that spread across the globe at the …
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Monitoring, Principles and Impotent Strategy
Without connecting monitoring of our programs with our principles and strategy, we are simply creating impotency in our organizations. The events of January 6th, 2021 at the United States Capitol were appalling to anyone who cares about that republic, democracy, and decency. While a mob incited by the sitting president stormed the building and forced …
Doing Nothing: An Innovation Paradox
Strategy in chaos is like whitewater rafting — it needs stillness among the motion. Sometimes the best transformation and boldest action is doing nothing.
Design for Chaos
Massive change often prompts fear, confusion, and a sense of chaos. How we manage and mitigate this is all about the right design choices. At the time of this writing we are seeing entire countries being quarantined along with thousands of people on cruise ships, sporting events being played to empty arenas, and large planned …