In one minute
Trace a goal through actors and behaviour changes to deliverables worth testing.
Ask why the outcome matters, who can affect it, how their behaviour must change and what delivery could support that change. Keep the map as a hypothesis, not a guarantee.
The problem it addresses
A project delivers a feature list while the intended organisational effect remains untested.
A public library plans a new portal to increase adult learning. Attendance data show that shift workers cannot use evening classes.
When to use it
- Use Impact Mapping when a project delivers a feature list while the intended organisational effect remains untested.
- The team can examine: A measurable goal, actor evidence, behavioural baselines and delivery constraints.
- A relevant situation is: A public library plans a new portal to increase adult learning. Attendance data show that shift workers cannot use evening classes.
When not to use it
Do not use it to replace evidence, accountable judgement or affected people's participation.
Confusing output delivery with actor impact; omitting actors who bear costs.
Inputs required
A measurable goal, actor evidence, behavioural baselines and delivery constraints.
Step-by-step process
1. Bound the decision and name its owner.
Write the scope, decision owner and people who can veto or revise the result before starting the workshop.
2. Collect the necessary evidence and affected perspectives.
Collect and date the necessary evidence: A measurable goal, actor evidence, behavioural baselines and delivery constraints.
3. Define one outcome and its guardrails.
Name the desired change, baseline, time window and harms that must not increase.
4. Identify actors who can help or hinder it.
Include beneficiaries, operators and people who could obstruct or bear the cost of the change.
5. Specify observable behaviour changes per actor.
Write an observable before-and-after behaviour for each actor instead of a vague attitude or adoption claim.
6. Propose several deliverables for each impact.
Link every proposed deliverable to a behaviour hypothesis and retain a cheaper non-product alternative.
7. Test the weakest links before scaling delivery.
Check the weakest goal–actor–impact–deliverable link in practice before funding a larger build.
8. Record the output, next test and review trigger.
Store the artifact with its evidence links, owner, bounded next test and date or trigger for review.
AI automation lens
AI may sort authorised notes and expose missing evidence. It must not invent observations, silently decide for affected people or present a generated map as validated.
Visual model
Text alternative: Define one outcome and its guardrails; Identify actors who can help or hinder it; Specify observable behaviour changes per actor; Propose several deliverables for each impact; Test the weakest links before scaling delivery.
Interactive example
Scenario: A public library plans a new portal to increase adult learning. Attendance data show that shift workers cannot use evening classes.
Worked answer: Map shift workers and tutors, test flexible session times and asynchronous help, and measure actual participation rather than portal visits.
Facilitation notes
Record disagreements before synthesising; ask whose evidence is missing; state who may revise the result.
Expected output
- An inspectable decision artifact, its assumptions and evidence, a responsible owner, a bounded next test and a review date.
- Test the weakest links before scaling delivery.
- A named owner, test and review date.
Common mistakes
Confusing output delivery with actor impact; omitting actors who bear costs.
Quality checklist
- The decision and system boundary are explicit.
- Affected people and alternative accounts are included.
- Each important claim has a source or is marked as an assumption.
- An owner, safeguard and disconfirming signal are named.
Template
Knowledge check
Question: What mistake would undermine this method in the scenario?
Answer: Confusing output delivery with actor impact; omitting actors who bear costs.
Related tools
References
- Impact Mapping — method source (opens in a new tab). Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Independent practice reference (opens in a new tab). Accessed 2026-09-28.
Method profile
The method structures a discussion and a test; it does not establish causal proof or guarantee success.