Using exploratory and evaluative research methods, I will use a human-centered design approach to update Ipas's organizational strategy. The overall objective of this work is to provide space for broad-based inputs from staff to inform the update, test proposed updates to the strategy, and provide radical transparency into the overall process.
Background
My core team members and I were tasked by Ipas's Executive Team to conduct an update on the organizational strategy. As the core team that developed the original organizational strategy, we had the necessary background information as well as the keen knowledge of lessons learned and process pain points to ensure a right-sized and inclusive approach.
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The Key Users for this project are Ipas staff, as this strategy will serve as a reference and guide for our organizational priorities and mission. However, the strategy will also be an important resource for our Board of Directors, Donors, and our partners.
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I, along with one other teammate, will conduct formative and evaluative research to gather insights on the user's feedback and priorities for the strategy update.
Objectives
In order to ensure the organizational strategy updates reflect the feedback and priorities of our users, we need to learn from staff through meaningful engagement.
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Formative Research​ Objectives
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Gather and analyze feedback from users on the current organizational strategy.
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Understand user suggestions on how to increase the impact of our strategy.
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Identify and define potential updates for the strategy.
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Evaluative Research Objectives
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Identify potential barriers to uptake of any proposed strategy updates.
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Review proposed updates for the strategy for feasibility and coherence with the organizational brand.
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Test proposed strategy updates using scenario planning.
Methods
In order to learn more about what our staff view as priority areas for an update to the Strategic Plan, we decided to gather feedback through focus group discussions.
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One staff member per office was invited to participate in a focus group discussion.
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The invited staff members were asked to facilitate a conversation with the rest of their office to gather feedback on the Strategic Plan. We provided optional facilitation guides for this conversation.
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During the Focus Group conversations, invited staff were asked to provide their own opinions and also reflect back on the findings from their office discussions.
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We offered 6 different dates and times for the Focus Group sessions. Invited staff were able to pick a date and time that worked best for their schedule.
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Focus Group sessions offered simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, French, and Portuguese, as requested.
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We asked a range of qualitative questions based on a central theme: How can we update the current Strategic Plan to increase our impact?
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Questions ranged from issues on partnerships, delivery models, key stakeholders, and current service offerings.
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We offered a range of opportunities for staff to participate using their voice and through reflection/anonymous written feedback.
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We also created a Design Team to help analyze the data from the Focus Group Discussions, define the current problem statement, brainstorm strategic possibilities and potential updates to the Strategic Plan, and identify potential barriers to uptake or implementation of proposed updates. The Design Team was made up of 10 Ipas staff members, who were all nominated by their relevant Director for participation. The Design Team members were representative of the organization's current geographical locations. We chose to organize and guide this process using the Strategy Choice Cascade Framework.
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We plan to invite key organizational leaders into the Design Team for a session focused on testing. We will use the available data through risk and landscape assessments to brainstorm and prioritize critical uncertainties. The top two critical uncertainties will be used to create four scenarios to test the proposed updates to the Strategic Plan. The Design Team will incorporate recommendations from this process into the proposed updates to finalize.
Key Insights
As a result of our Focus Group Discussions, we gained the following insights:
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Ipas staff are eager and excited to make updates to our existing Strategic Plan, especially to better support donor communications, fundraising efforts, and internal communications on our work.
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There is a desire to explore and clarify the intersections of our work, like the crossroads between abortion access and climate justice.
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The greatest area of
Impacts
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To be added following the Focus Group sessions and after the initial Design Team sessions (expected July - September 2022).
My Learnings
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To be added following the completion of the project (expected Oct 2022).