Planning for impact
How to plan your research to create maximum impact.
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Planning for impact helps you be intentional about how your research connects with people, partners, and possibilities for change.
The five-step process below can help you plan for the impact of your research. Once your plan is in place, it’s a good idea to revisit and refine it throughout your research project, especially as your partners, priorities or context evolve.
The planning process
Step 1: Identify the research need
- What problem, issue, or gap does your research address?
- What is the magnitude of this issue, where is it felt, and by whom?
Step 2: Define your (potential) impact
- Be specific and realistic about the potential impacts that could occur.
- What would success look like? What indicators could show your research has made a difference?
Step 3: Map your partners
- Who might be interested in, affected by, or able to use your research? And why?
- Prioritise partners according to their interest in the issue, their alignment with your approach, and their ability to influence change.
Step 4: Develop an engagement strategy
- Plan meaningful engagement activities for each key partner or group.
- Clearly define the aim of each activity and what it will produce (e.g. input, collaboration, feedback).
Step 5: Piece together your implementation plan
- Pull it all together into a plan with a budget, responsibilities, and timelines.
- Ensure your plan is flexible enough to adapt as your research progresses.