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Overview

The UCD Impact Planning Canvas is a tool designed to assist researchers in effectively planning and managing the societal impact of their research. It is versatile, allowing for use at various stages of the research process, and supports a range of activities from identifying collaborators to reflecting on completed projects. The Canvas encourages a flexible approach, utilizing post-it notes for dynamic interaction, and requires a minimal time investment of 15-30 minutes. It is complemented by additional resources, including instructional videos and worked examples.

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Dimensions

Resource type: The UCD Impact Planning Canvas is a structured guide that aids researchers in organizing their impact strategies, thus it falls under the category of a tool designed for academic and professional use.

• Tags: tool, canvas, framework

Objective: This resource is primarily aimed at helping researchers map out the potential impact of their work and align their research objectives with broader societal goals.

• Tags: map, align

Target audience: Given its design for research impact planning, the Canvas is most relevant to researchers, but can also be beneficial to educators and policy-makers involved in the research ecosystem.

• Tags: researchers, educators, policy-makers

Sustainability focus: While not exclusively framed as a tool of sustainability, the Canvas can be used to plan for research impacts that include environmental, social, and economic sustainability goals.

• Tags: environmental-sustainability, social-sustainability, economic-sustainability

Innovation type: The Canvas supports innovation in research methodologies and potentially in the development of comprehensive ways to think more broadly about the relevance and impact of one's research, as it helps researchers plan for societal impact.

• Tags: process-innovation, social-innovation

Entrepreneurship stage: The Canvas doesn't directly concern entrepreneurship, but it is adaptable to any stage of the research process and more relevant to the early stages, which can be paralleled to the entrepreneurial journey from ideation to maturity.

• Tags: ideation, design, development, implementation, maturity

Scope of relevance: The Canvas is designed to be universally applicable, making it relevant on a global scale, but can be tailored to specific regional or national contexts.

• Tags: global, regional, national

Methodological approach: The Canvas promotes a structured, strategic approach to planning, which can be associated with both qualitative and theoretical frameworks.

• Tags: qualitative-research, theoretical-frameworks

Skill development: Using the Canvas can enhance skills in systems thinking, innovative thinking, and adaptability.

• Tags: systems-thinking, innovative-thinking, adaptability-and-resilience

Source and credibility: The UCD Impact Planning Canvas is developed by a reputable academic institution.

• Tags: academic-institutions

Prerequisites and requirements: The Canvas is designed to be user-friendly and does not require any specific educational background or advanced skills.

• Tags: none, beginner-level

Collaboration level: The Canvas facilitates individual reflection as well as team-based planning, but is generally geared toward project impact.

• Tags: individual, team

More information can be found at UCD Impact Planning Canvas. Examples of filled in canvases can be found here, here, and here.

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Resources