Intended Learning outcomes
This page is designed to help you:
Clearly understand the concept of the accountability line
Understand where you are and where you are not accountable for change
Help you make decisions about what you can measure and when
What is the accountability line?
You will be happy to know that you don't have to feel personally and individually responsible for, say, increasing global media literacy or the end of child labour. The accountability line marks the point between the outcomes or impact you contribute to (e.g. increased literacy) and the outcomes that are directly attributable to you (e.g. open access to information). When you go past the accountability line, other factors will influence the outcomes - they are beyond your control.
In the Change Pathway, we use the Accountability Line to mark where we no longer solely accountable for change. Look at the red line on the Change Pathway below.
In the example above, you wouldn’t be directly responsible for pupils having a stronger sense of connection with heritage. This might be influenced by a lot of other factors, but you can contribute towards it. You also can’t be responsible for educators using more heritage in the classroom - they have to be motivated to do this, and other barriers or influences might influence this outcome. In both cases, however, you can create the conditions for these changes to happen, that is to say, the short-term outcomes that can lead to this, and measure this.
Tip.
The accountability line is a great metaphor to make people understand the difference between the big, lofty goal you want to contribute to (impact) and the changes that can be directly attributable to you (outcomes). If you get stuck, look back at the guidance on Identifying short- and long-term outcomes.
Accountability line quiz
https://forms.gle/pHVhBFsx4EMir3Sv6Next steps
Review the steps set out in the Change Pathway - the heart of Phase one to keep yourself on track
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