1. An Outcome Mapping Learning Community Webinar
Ricardo Wilson-Grau in Rio de Janeiro
15 December 2010

2. The fish soup development story
Inspired by Monika Jetzin, Global Water Partnership, Hungary

3. Parents contribute a bit
Inputs or resources
Parents get together fish, fresh vegetables, water, barley, spices, pot, source of heat
Parents control
Activities
Mother or father carefully prepare and cook all the ingredients
Output
Children taste the most nourishing fish soup in the world
Outcome
Children consider the soup delicious and eat fish soup once a week for the rest of their lives
Parents influence
Impact
Children are healthy adults
Parents contribute a bit

4. The difference between simple and complex fish soups?
Example adapted from Getting to Maybe, How the World Is Changed?, Frances Westley, Brenda Zimmerman, Michael Q. Patton, Random House Canada, 2006.
Inspired by the IDRC EcoHealth and Complexity study group, with special thanks to Andrés Sánchez.

5. A simple situation
The relations of cause and effect are known. The parents follow the great grandmother’s recipe for fish soup. The quantity and nature of the ingredients are spelled out, as well as the order in how they should be combined. The parents do not need expertise although of course experience in cooking helps. If they follow the recipe they will produce basically the same soup week after week.

6. If only life were so simple!
In the real world, the results can be much less certain.
The great grandmother’s recipe is lost.
Her recommended fish is not available in the market every week of the year.
The family’s buying power varies from year to year.
Children are different and change as they grow:
One becomes a vegetarian.
Another goes on a diet.
A third is simply rebellious.
Outside factors and actors influence the children – school, TV, friends and so forth

7. In such a complex situation
The relationships of cause and effect are unknown until the outcomes emerges.
To produce a nutritious soup that their children will eat once a week for the rest of their lives, the recipe is less important than the parents’ relationships with each son and daughter, and theirs with their social environment.
More than cooking experience,
parent’s must rely on their
sensitivity to their children’s
needs and their own creativity in
the kitchen.
And they must accept
uncertainty about the results.

8. When the organisation and its reality are substantially complex

9. Conventional thinking…
Vision and
Mission
IMPACT
OUTCOMES
Plan
OUTPUTS
ACTIVITIES
INPUTS
Time
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org

10. … clashes with relationships of cause and effect that are unknown
Vision and
Mission
IMPACT
OUTCOMES
Plan
OUTPUTS
ACTIVITIES
INPUTS
Time
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org

11. … clashes with relationships of cause and effect that are unknown
Vision and
Mission
… clashes with relationships of cause and effect that are unknown
OUTCOME
OUTCOME
OUTPUT
ACTIVITY
OUTCOME
Time
OUTCOME
OUTPUT
OUTCOME
ACTIVITY
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
INPUTS
OUTCOME
ACTIVITY
OUTCOME
INPUTS
ACTIVITY
OUTPUT
INPUTS
INPUTS
Plan

12. Implications for Outcome Mapping

13. Simple situations

14. Simple situations

15. Simple situations

16. Simple situations
Complex situations

17. Simple situations
Complex situations

18. Simple situations
Complex situations

19. Simple situations
Complex situations

20. Simple situations
Complex situations

21. Do you have questions or comments?
Thank you!
Do you have questions or comments?