--- title: The Latest | Mark Cabaj description: Mark Cabaj | --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) # The Latest Contribute. We love to hear your thoughts, your musings and your latest work. Please share with us! [![Write a post](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/33819a55-1164-4664-8ab0-c9fe2f42d6f1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/33819a55-1164-4664-8ab0-c9fe2f42d6f1) #### Subscribe. Be in the know. Get the latest updates about community change and building vibrant communities. [Learn More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/subscribe?hsLang=en-us) × - [Climate Change & SDGs](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/climate-transitions) - [Collective Impact](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/collective-impact) - [Community Engagement](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/community-engagement) - [Community Development](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cities-deepening-community) - [Evaluation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/evaluation) - [Innovation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/community-innovation) - [Leadership](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/collaborative-leadership) - [Poverty](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/cities-reducing-poverty) - [Youth](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/communities-building-youth-futures) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/tyranny%20of%20metrics.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/rethinking-how-we-evaluate-use-data?hsLang=en-us) ### [Rethinking How We Evaluate and Use Data](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/rethinking-how-we-evaluate-use-data?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Duncan Field](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/duncan-field) on April 15, 2019 Everyone, regardless of whether you consider yourself an evaluator or not, uses metrics. We track our finances, look at gas mileage and so much more. In a community change context, we often find ways to track the performance of things like marketing and communications, program delivery, and budgeting. [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/rethinking-how-we-evaluate-use-data?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/systems%20code-088846-edited.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/scaling-for-systems-change-rethinking-planning-and-evaluation?hsLang=en-us) ### [Scaling for Systems Change: Rethinking Planning and Evaluation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/scaling-for-systems-change-rethinking-planning-and-evaluation?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Mark Cabaj](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/mark-cabaj) on November 13, 2018 One of the most common pathways to systems change is to ‘scale’ a successful small-scale innovation. The theory is simple. Social innovators develop and test a new model or practice that they think can make a positive difference (e.g., improve grade 3 reading rates, protect wetlands, reduce the racism some people encounter when trying to secure good housing). This is usually (but not always) organized as a pilot project. If the experiment is successful, they then work with funders and early adopters to expand the practice broadly enough that it can ‘change’ a system and generate widespread impact. [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/scaling-for-systems-change-rethinking-planning-and-evaluation?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Blank%20sheet%20with%20writing%20utensils%20around%20it-521135-edited.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/planning-systems-change-evaluation?hsLang=en-us) ### [Planning Systems Change Evaluation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/planning-systems-change-evaluation?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Mark Cabaj](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/mark-cabaj) on September 21, 2018 The video System Thinking and Evaluation, by Kylie Hutchinson, Chris Lovato and Bev Parsons is an excellent introduction to evaluating systems change. It describes how an evaluation of a hypothetical initiative to improve nutrition in a community must both ‘zoom in’ to explore the programmatic effects of the effort (e.g., improved health of program participants) and ‘zoom out’ to assess influence and change on factors in the larger systems that affect their individual health (e.g., urban design which affects levels of physical activity, the quality of industrial food production, the culture of portion sizes). The video also reminds us that deep and durable progress on complex issues depends on our ability to reshape the deeper systems that contribute to those problems in the first place. [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/planning-systems-change-evaluation?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Weaving-510224-edited.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/weaving-together-accountability-and-learning-in-complex-situations?hsLang=en-us) ### [Weaving Together Accountability and Learning in Complex Situations](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/weaving-together-accountability-and-learning-in-complex-situations?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Mark Cabaj](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/mark-cabaj) on February 14, 2018 Michael Quinn Patton, evaluation expert, has argued that even the best intentioned, well-resourced evaluation processes can become, “the enemy of social innovation” if change-makers, evaluators and funders employ a traditional – rather than developmental – approach to assessment.   [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/weaving-together-accountability-and-learning-in-complex-situations?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/Principles%20Focused%20Evaluation%20Book%205%203.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/principles-focused-evaluation-review?hsLang=en-us) ### [Principles-Focused Evaluation: Newest Approach for Evaluating Complex Change Efforts](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/principles-focused-evaluation-review?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Mark Cabaj](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/mark-cabaj) on December 11, 2017 One of the toughest challenges for social innovators and evaluators is to describe the “it” they are trying to evaluate. While they typically have a general idea of the outcome they would like to see (e.g., an end to homelessness, addressing mental health issues, a feeling of inclusion), they often struggle to lay out the pathway(s) to get there. This makes it difficult for both parties to land on questions, indicators and/or methods around which to build an evaluation design.  [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/principles-focused-evaluation-review?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Events/Multi-Day%20Events/Deepening%20Community%20Events/2017%20DC%20Montreal/Event%20Photos/35069228041_0c5d54549e_o.jpg?t=1507641989759&width=350&name=35069228041_0c5d54549e_o.jpg) ](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/5-shared-measurement-challenges-for-collective-impact-initiatives?hsLang=en-us) ### [5 Shared Measurement Challenges for Collective Impact Initiatives](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/5-shared-measurement-challenges-for-collective-impact-initiatives?hsLang=en-us) Posted by [Mark Cabaj](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/mark-cabaj) on October 10, 2017 My just-released paper, [*Shared Measurement: The Why is Clear, the How Continues to Develop*](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/shared-measurement-paper?hsLang=en-us) acknowledges the importance of shared measurement as one of the five conditions of Collective Impact.  As noted by Kania and Kramer, “Collecting data and measuring results consistently on a short list of indicators at the community level and across all participating organisations not only ensures that all efforts remain aligned, it also enables the participants to hold each other accountable and learn from each other’s successes and failures.”  [Read More](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/5-shared-measurement-challenges-for-collective-impact-initiatives?hsLang=en-us) [Next](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/mark-cabaj/page/2) [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en-us) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=en-us) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=en-us) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. 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