Tracing Impact: A Hands-On Introduction to Ripple Effects Mapping
The biggest changes your program creates are often the ones you never set out to measure — the new relationship, the idea that spread, the confidence and capacity built along the way. Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) is the participatory method that brings them to the surface. Rather than dividing change into 'intended' and 'unintended', it treats all outcomes as in scope allowing for a wider picture to be gathered.
What is Ripple Effects Mapping?
REM is a facilitated, group-based qualitative method that maps how the effects of an initiative radiate outward — from the direct results, to the flow-on changes, to the relationships and capacities built along the way. Recent innovations have extended the methodology further to implementation longitudinally, virtual delivery, and more. The core of the approach is a mixture of semi-structured peer-to-peer interviewing, mind mapping, and systems-driven analysis techniques.
Join us in Melbourne for a fun and engaging day learning REM! Places are limited, and for the month of July they are discounted further!
Grab your spot through the checkout at the bottom of the page. If you need an invoice to pay please fill out this form.
Where is Ripple Effects Mapping useful?
Complex change doesn't move in straight lines. Outcomes emerge, interact and can mean different things to different people. These circumstances - extremely common in systems change and place-based work - call for techniques that go beyond traditional methods. Understanding how trust, relationships, and capacity building lead to key moments in time is one of the key areas that REM can be useful. In short it:
- Surfaces the unexpected — captures the emergent and unintended outcomes standard measures miss
- Demonstrates why relationships matter — reveals the social capital and connections place-based change runs on
- Elevates local and individual knowledge and expertise — treats the people closest to the work as the experts on what changed
- Helps to structure tracking and tracing change over time - REM maps how effects contribute to one another across a system
- Matches how communities see change — a whole-of-place, whole-of-story picture, woven together not a list of disconnected numbers.
The day at a glance
Learning a whole new technique in a single day is a big ask for anyone. That's why the day prioritises learning and hands-on activities up front, and finishes off with a space to share learning and connect with other attendees. It's not just a workshop, it's a space to form relationships and share practices. The day will cover:
- Background — what REM is, where it came from, the range of ways it's used (evaluation, planning, storytelling, engagement, funder reporting), and considerations for doing it well
- Working through the REM process - you will step through the REM process from end-to-end. This includes the mapping process, approach to analysis, and interpretation.
- Debriefs and planning processes - we will work through the final products, discuss challenges ways to unpack rigour and interpetation. Then we work through what it means to undertake your own REM, or commission them as part of evaluations.
- Connect - rather than run right through to the end of the day, the final portion acts as a chance to network with others working in evaluation, community development and place-based change.
What you'll walk away with
- The confidence and skills to design and implement your first REM session, or how to create the space to commission them as part of change efforts
- A greater understanding of the breadth of possibilities for REM as an added tool in your toolkit
- Resources, further reading, and guidance materials
- New connections across the complex, place-based change community
Who it's for
Evaluators, program and community development practitioners, place-based practitioners and backbone organisations, funders and researchers. This is for anyone who wants to explore techniques making waves overseas but have not yet made it to Australia. Some understanding of evaluation and general research methods (e.g. interviews) is beneficial but option, no real background required!
Who's facilitating
Principal Consultant Matt Healey will be leading the workshop. Matt draws on more than 12 years of evaluation practice, of which the last six he has been incorporating systems-based methodologies into his work. This includes Social Network Analysis, System Effects, Participatory Systems Mapping, and more.
In summary:
- What: A day-long workshop learning the Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) technique
- Dates: Wed 21 October OR Thu 19 November
- Time: 9am – 5pm
- Venue: Melbourne CBD (venue TBD)
- Places: Limited to 30 people per session
- Includes: Materials, catering (dietary requirements gathered closer to the time), and some take-away resources