What did you want to find out at the start of your project?
How to identify, organize, and automate institutional data in service of strategic priorities.
What did you actually do?
The DART programme provided us with a framework to help understand what data is important and what data was a distraction. We used the one x one mentoring sessions to further refine the process. We developed an experiment and a subsequent plan that simplified the key and secondary metrics for the organization. We presented the plan to our board of directors, who were delighted by the approach and had minimal feedback.
What was the most difficult thing you found?
Simplifying was the most challenging part. There was so much data and so many ways to use it, but the work of choosing the right KPIs to focus on also meant back-burnering the vast majority. It took a while to realize that was the right thing to do.
What surprised you?
How supportive and dedicated the DART mentors were to promoting our success. They put in an admirable amount of time, energy and they were so generous with their expertise.
What is next for you and/or your organization?
Implementing the plan we developed during the DART process. The work is underway and of the components we’ve created so far, it has already proven useful in saving time, demonstrating to the staff the impact of their work on the organization’s success, and will no doubt help us achieve our goals for the year by having us focus on the activities that contribute to our strategic priorities.
What 3 quick takeaways would you give to help future participants/your current fellow participants?
Approach this work like it’s an internal, high-priority project for the organization (not a side-hustle add-on. It takes time and effort that will ultimately help your organization so treat it as such).
Make use of the mentor’s expertise by being prepared for your one on one sessions. Prepare questions, ask for help on pain points, and follow-up in between meetings to keep momentum.
Communicate the details of the DART programme interally to ensure strong buy-in at all levels. The training is invaluable and would otherwise cost $$$ to the organization in consulting fees. Share out the findings with the other staff and ideally the Board of Directors. If you don’t share what you’ve learned and implement it thoughtfully, the learning is far less valuable.