Number of instances when target users report that their projects reused or adapted previously captured knowledge/resources to design or start a project, program, and/or initiative

Indicator Number: 
62

Category: 

Logic Model Component: 

Data Type(s): 
Binary (y/n), count, qualitative
Short Definition: 

Refers to the use of previously captured knowledge for decision making while designing or starting a project, program, or initiative

Definition and Explanation (Long): 

This indicator refers to the use of previously captured tacit and explicit knowledge for decision making while designing or starting an activity, such as a project, program, or initiative. This may include accessing previous after-action reviews, reviewing previous project documentation, conducting a peer assist with actors previously engaged in similar work, or conducting before-action reviews with the team. It can apply to work-related decisions and practices at project, program, initiative, and individual levels. Anecdotal evidence may be included regarding whether a consultation has occurred or resulted in actionable recommendations.

Data Requirements: 

Quantitative and qualitative data from key informant interviews or focus group discussions, used to determine when previously captured knowledge or resources were use, reused, or adapted for a specific activity

Data Sources: 

Key informant interviews, focus group discussions, after-action reviews

Frequency of Data Collection: 
Semiannually or after specific activities
Purpose: 
This indicator measures actions taken to put reflection and knowledge into practice. By asking open-ended questions, the indicator captures not just the number of instances of the material being used, but also the way it was used, how it was adapted, and how it was useful in the design or start-up of a project, program, or initiative. This indicator addresses a common challenge in adaptive management—taking the time to use previously captured knowledge and resources. This number can be used to calculate a percentage.
Issues and Challenges: 
Finding time for discussion and analysis can be challenging for a project, program, or initiative. This indicator is mostly used to evaluate the adaptive practices selected, not the program itself, which can result in a low prioritization of this indicator. Qualitative data collection can provide additional insights on the meaning of this indicator, and is strongly recommended because of potentially divergent points of view of what constitutes use, reuse, adaptation, and/or action.
Related Indicators: 
Indicators related to action, such as decision making, policy, and practice (indicators 40 to 42), and users’ knowledge needs and feedback used to inform design and implementation of products and services (indicator 4). This indicator is also linked to indicator 58, in that indicator 58 counts the number of sessions, and indicator 62 counts the number of times someone reports that the knowledge gained has been used.

Published Year: 

  • 2017
Last Updated Date: 
Wednesday, December 13, 2017