Steal This Vision for Your Data Strategy

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Visions matter. They inspire. They clarify goals. A solid vision gives meaning to even mundane, yet necessary, tasks — data cleaning anyone?

A vision statement is “A description of the world as it would exist if the organization were to succeed in achieving its grandest aspirations” (thank you Bridgespan). Excellent vision statements toe the line. You need to believe that the possibility exists to achieve it, and yet shoot for the stars.

As a strategy, evaluation, and organization learning consultant I learned that you can apply a vision statement to anything. Need inspiration for the product or program you are developing? Vision statement— done! Need inspiration for a new initiative or organizational change effort? Vision secured! The vision statements I developed in partnership with my clients revolved around their approach to strategic learning and evaluation.

After the third or fourth vision statement, a pattern emerged. Three things consistently showed up in organizations’ learning and evaluation visions:

1. A desire to use data and information for continuous learning and improvement
2. A commitment to demonstrating evidence of impact
3. A desire to share information with and be informed by various stakeholders

At Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, we’ve developed a vision statement to guide our Impact & Evaluation efforts. Our vision is:

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula is an evidence-generating organization that uses data for continuous learning and ongoing program improvement, so that more of the youth we serve can succeed in school and live fulfilling lives.

We have clear outcomes that unify us as an organization, programs intentionally designed to achieve those outcomes, and a deliberate investment strategy that keeps us focused and adaptive to our community’s evolving needs.

I love this vision! Why?

1. We commit to using data, not just collecting and reporting it
2. Our accountability to is to learning and adaptation
3. Evidence-generation is directly tied to mission fulfilment
4. We marry an outcomes-orientation with adapting to changes in our context

Have you developed a vision statement you love? Share it and why. And if you like ours: steal it, adapt it, but more importantly — do it!