Phase four Intended Learning outcomes (ILOs)

By building your capacity in using the approach set out in Phase four of the Impact Playbook, you will be able to:

Understand the purpose of evaluation and how it fits into the Impact Playbook cycle
Be able to apply evaluation methods suitable for your context

Introduction

Phase four of the Europeana Impact Playbook is devoted to evaluating your impact assessment approach. It first sets out methodologies that help you evaluate and improve your approach to impact assessment, and then sets out ways to embed impact more strongly in your organisation. Phase four naturally fits at the end of the impact assessment cycle, but it leads straight back to phase one and its principles and tools can be used at any impact assessment stage.

Who is it for?

We start from the assumption that you have completed an impact assessment and that you will have followed some of the approaches laid out in the first three Phases of the Playbook. Nonetheless, what we share might be useful for you in contexts not related to impact assessment.

We think that you’ll be the person who has led the impact assessment from the very beginning. Whether you have this insight and overview or whether you’ve been thrown in at the deep end, Phase four requires no in-depth knowledge but instead a reflective mind, listening skills, critical thinking and a desire to improve.

Quick quiz

Do any of the following options apply to your situation?

You or your colleagues using your impact assessment findings
You have a lot of learning about your impact still to do
You have unanswered questions from your impact assessment, or collected new ideas to research
You planned or have ideas for further or continued impact assessment

If yes, then you are in the right place! Phase four can help you.

What is the impact of evaluating your impact?

Design activities that better meet your stakeholders needs and help you fulfil your mission.
Embed an approach to designing, assessing and narrating your impact into your organisation and activities.
Move forward in your processes of organisational change, growth and improvement.
Help us bring the sector closer to our vision of having a common method and language for talking about the impact of digital cultural heritage.

How much time will it take?

We set out different options you could follow that could range from about 90 minutes to a few hours of activity over several weeks. What is most important is that you choose an approach that works for you.

What is the end result?

You’ll evaluate the approach you took in your impact assessment: the process taken, the journey with your colleagues, and the tools and methods used. Most importantly, you’ll develop ideas on how to improve your next impact assessments. By the end of the four steps, you will feel ready to move on to your next impact assessment, and have a clear picture of how taking an impact approach can help your organisation in its learning and strategic development.

After Phase four, you’ll have:

A completed ‘evaluation’ of your impact assessment approach
A list of recommendations on how to improve your next impact assessment
A list of recommendations on how to improve your next projects and activities