Publication Change Management

Theories of Change for Digital Transformation in Government:
Resource Appendix

This resource appendix is a compilation of useful resources intended as a follow-on to the Digital Service Network’s (DSN) writing on theories of change (ToC) for digital transformation in government. Practitioners can use these resources to DIY their ToC after reading the essays.

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This resource appendix is a compilation of useful resources intended as a follow-on to the Digital Service Network‘s (DSN) writing on theories of change (ToC) for digital transformation in government. Practitioners can use these resources to DIY their ToC after reading the essays. This is a fluid document that we update as additional resources come across our radar.

Still not sure where to start? The DSN is here to help. Reach out digitalservicenetwork@georgetown.edu to inquire about DSN staff hosting a session to help your digital service-focused team craft its very own ToC.

DSN ToC essay series

ToC overview and value proposition: Toward Sound, Explicit Theories of Change for Digital Service Teams
Essay 1: Crafting a Theory of Change for Digital Transformation in Government
Essay 2: Wielding a Theory of Change for Digital Transformation in Government

Toolkits for developing a ToC

Comprehensive guidance and templates for building a theory of change from the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Templates for developing a ToC from the Annie E. Casey Foundation
ToC resources, examples, and practical advice from Annie E. Casey spin-off Center for Theory of Change
Table outlining when and how to use a ToC from Annie E. Casey spin-off Center for Theory of Change
Facilitation guide for running ToC development sessions from the Aspen Institute
Step-by-step guidance on building a theory of change from New Philanthropy Capital
Mechanisms – A missing component in your theory of change? from New Philanthropy Capital
Free e-book and training resources on ToCs from SoPact
Theory of Change TECHNICAL PAPERS: A Series of Papers to Support Development of Theories of Change Based on Practice in the Field from ActKnowledge
Theory of Change Guidance from UNDAF
Mapping Change: Using a Theory of Change to Guide Planning and Evaluation from Grantcraft
Strategies for overcoming the limitations of ToCs from the Annie E. Casey Foundation

Digital service-specific ToC examples

Canadian Digital Service
- Making the Canadian Digital Service Bolder by Marc-André Simard
- Evaluation of the Canadian Digital Service conducted in 2021 by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, which includes an outline of CDS’ ToC

Practitioner writing on ToCs

Defining a ToC vs a Logic Model from Harvard Family Research Project’s The Evaluation Exchange
Theories of Change: Time for a radical approach to learning in development: report by Craig Valters on the practice and principles of building and using a ToC
Unpacking the Theory of Change by Maoz Brown in Stanford Social Innovation Review on how ToCs promote better evaluations
Why Change Needs a Theory by Cigdem Tongal
A plan is not a strategy discussing the value of the strategy work that underpins ToCs with Roger Martin in the Harvard Business Review
Introduction to Levers for Digital Service Groups by David Eaves, Tom Loosemore, and Lauren Lombardo