Leading inter- and transdisciplinary research: Lessons from applying theories of change to a strategic research program. Issue 120 (June 2021) - Deutsch, Lisa
Highlights: Developing ToCs requires time and effort at the cognitive, emotional and social level. Initial reservations about ToCs is followed by recognition and appreciation. ToCs facilitate strategic long-term planning and monitoring of IDR and TDR. ToCs are living products and support reflection and learning about change processes. Program leaders assume a service and a science role in leading ToC processes. Abstract: Theory of Change (ToC) has been promoted as a useful tool in sustainability research for visioning, planning, communication, monitoring, evaluation and learning. It involves a mapping of steps towards a desired long-term goal supplemented with continuous reflection on how and why change is expected to happen in a particular context. However, there is limited reported experience with the development and application of ToCs in inter- and transdisciplinary research contexts. While some previous publications have focused on ex-post application, there has been little discussion about the process of developing and using ToCs in strategic planning and monitoring in large inter- and transdisciplinary research programs. This article reports challenges and lessons learned from the experience of developing and using ToCs in the inter- and transdisciplinary research program Wings (W ater and sanitation i nnovations for n on-g rid s olutions). Challenges include (1) managing time constraints, (2) balancing between concrete and abstract discussions, (3) ensuring diversity in group composition, (4) fluctuating between reservations and appreciation, and (5) fulfilling both service and science roles while leading the ToC process. The experience highlights the importance of alternating formal and informal interaction formats throughout the process, ensuring heterogenous group formation, involving early career scientists, being responsive to emergent needs and making the added value of developing and using ToCs explicit and tangible for all participants. Although these lessons are mainly derived from developing ToCs within the interdisciplinary program team, they can support other programs in both their inter- and transdisciplinary research endeavors.