Engineering Change: The Theory of Change Model
In our research on social entrepreneurship, one model has stood out from the others as a key strategy to develop a social entrepreneurial venture. Instead of starting at the beginning, the theory of change model developed by Carol Weiss (1972), has the entrepreneur start with the social impact the organization wants to achieve.
The theory of change begins with the end goal—to end poverty, to alleviate homelessness, to educate youth, to empower women and then work your way backwards to accomplish the theory of change. The model looks at the creation of social value to develop outcomes that will achieve the stated social impact. Looking at individual activities and the resources necessary to accomplish the project is the final step in the theory of change that integrates systems thinking showing connections between one element and how it affects another element.
Ultimately, all social ventures want to achieve as much social value as possible. The theory of change allows organizations to sharpen their focus on the social impact. The more social value that is created, the greater the social impact achieved. To learn more about the theory of change, go to
www.theoryofchange.org
Weiss, C. H. (1972). Evaluation Research: Methods of Assessing Program Effectiveness. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
A New Revolution: Social Entrepreneurs take the Stage
When Susan Davis took center stage as the keynote speaker for the US Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE), she challenged faculty to consider the role we play in changing lives. Davis led us through stories of Grameen Bank and BRAC and their work to help people get out of poverty – one person at a time.
The John Hughes/USASBE Award for Entrepreneurial Advocacy was presented to Steve Mariotti, founder of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). NFTE has graduated scores of young people who learn about the benefits of entrepreneurial activity in the hopes of keeping these high risk young people engaged in the classroom.
From graduating social innovators to changing students lives and ultimately to change the lives of others; these social entrepreneurs are paving the way for the next generation of change agents.
In the pedagogy pillar session on entrepreneurship at USASBE , Dr. Heidi Neck and Dr. Patty Green from Babson University addressed the audience about entrepreneurship as a vehicle to solve the world’s problems.
Mark Pomerantz from Seattle University coordinated a panel of six faculty to address how social entrepreneurship has become an important academic concept as more universities of higher education offer courses and programs. A panel discussion on spirituality and social entrepreneurship brought together faculty interested in understanding the role faith plays in social entrepreneurial endeavors. And a case on innovation and entrepreneurial thinking in public education was presented by faculty at Louisiana State University highlighting the need for systemic change in education.
Students are driven by a passion to create a better world. What better way to do this, than through social entrepreneurship. As instructors, we want students to embrace the concepts of social entrepreneurship. But where does entrepreneurship end and humanity begin? How do we encourage students to address extreme poverty in their own country or in developing economies? If entrepreneurs are relentlessly focused on the bottom line, social entrepreneurs are relentlessly focused on maximizing social value. As we enter 2010, let us recommit ourselves to social change and making a difference – one life at a time.
