WokeOnPaperThe Theory of Change vs The Change
One lives beautifully inside the deck. The other has to survive outside it.
The theory of change is supposed to help organisations explain how their work leads to change. It can bring clarity to a complex programme and make assumptions visible.
The problem begins when the diagram becomes more convincing than reality. Neat arrows, boxes and outcomes can create the feeling that change is predictable when life rarely behaves that way.
The best theory of change should remain connected to what people experience. If the field keeps telling us something different from the deck, perhaps the deck needs changing.
