Collective impact initiatives utilize shared measurement systems to identify key metrics of success that align partners toward a common vision. But a recent article by Justin Piff in the Stanford Social Innovation Review suggests that the specific data we chose to track loudly signals what we believe to be important. In the article, the author shares four lessons from his work that can help collective impact initiatives use data more effectively for social change. They are: 1. Prioritize the...

Roger, thank you for sharing this view about using data effectively for social change. It's a quick reminder to focus on why the data is being used and the importance on both the numbers and stories and their meaning; on the people we are serving. And to proceed with the near and long term in mind. Periodically asking questions that arise from the cited author could be very useful. Here's a list that came to me: Why are we using the data? What does it mean? How can we learn from the data?