Purpose: To help a research or policy-making group come to terms with the feedback dynamics of the system which characterises the problem they are interested in. The intent is to learn just enough about the way that feedback operates in the system-of-interest, that they can identify and explain its main effects. The aim is to […]

This guide for researchers in socio-economic sciences and humanities provides help in creating policy briefs, project websites, flyers and brochures. It offers insights into dealing with the press and contains suggestions on how to organise a final project conference. The aim is to “build a functional communications interface between researchers and policymakers.” The key topics […]

This handbook presents communication tools grouped under the headings of planning, packaging, targeting and monitoring tools. Tools include problem tree analysis, visioning scenarios, blogging and outcome mapping. The tools are specifically geared towards the needs of researchers in civil society organisations. They are a product of the work of the Overseas Development Institute’s Research and […]

Purpose: To stimulate thinking about the political and institutional environment, especially: How it affects the persistence of a particular problem Where reform is most likely to come from Implications for the use of research-based evidence. Description: This thinking tool has 5 questions. 1. Which branch of government holds the key to change?   This involves […]

Purpose: To demonstrate how games based on models can assist decision making and change on complex problems. Description: This video demonstrates how well-designed games, with skilled facilitation, empower players to make better decisions. When those with power to make change are the players, games can assist in finding innovative ways to make progress on difficult […]

Purpose: To systematically solicit and collate expert judgments on a particular topic, which also provides a structured way for the experts to build on each other’s ideas. Description: Each expert is asked for their judgment on a topic using a questionnaire or interview; this does not require the experts to meet. The responses are collated and summarised and returned to the experts before proceeding with a second round of questions about the topic, often leading to voting on a particular question...

Purpose: Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a method, a theory of action, a dialogue process, and a whole of system concept that brings together members of an organisation to clarify, develop and integrate their visions about their joint endeavours. The aim is to build on something in the organisation that works well and that can move the organisation to a higher level of goal attainment to strengthen the future of the organisation.

Purpose: To create the right conditions for dialogue Description: Nine key dynamics in a dialogue are 1) building a safe space, 2) openness, 3) respect, 4) storytelling, 5) listening, 6) suspending automatic response, judgment, and certainty, 7) collaborative inquiry, 8) finding common ground and exploring differences and 9) balancing advocacy and inquiry.  Building a safe space: […]

Purpose: Nominal group technique is a special-purpose method for problem solving or idea generation. It taps and combines individual judgments to arrive at decisions that could not be determined by one person. It is not a tool for routine meetings or for negotiating or bargaining. It is not a tool for routine meetings or for negotiating or bargaining. Instead it is a technique for judgmental or creative decision making where there is lack of agreement or an incomplete state of knowledge about either the nature of the problem or about what is required to reach a successful solution.

The ethical matrix provides a structured process for identifying, weighing and integrating different, and potentially conflicting, values among the various stakeholders concerned with an issue or problem. The matrix has three principles – well-being, autonomy and justice – on the horizontal axis, with the various stakeholders affected by the problem and decision-making listed on the […]