Pulling it all together
In some instances, a single indicator will provide the right level of insight for a company to be in a position to evaluate whether a core principle has been achieved. In other instances, several data points will need to be reviewed simultaneously in order to provide an overall picture of how the company is tracking against a core principle.
For example:
- Reviewing the type of engagement technique/tools used, the number of stakeholders who have engaged with each technique/tool and the stakeholder attitude toward each techniques/tools, provides an understanding as to whether the techniques/tools used are appropriate for the stakeholder audience (including disadvantaged or vulnerable groups). Attendance rate coupled with attitude will generally give an indication that the technique/tools are appropriate for the local context.
- Several KPIs are informed by stakeholder attitude or trust. While a positive trend in stakeholder attitude or trust may correlate to a more positive experience for a stakeholder, it may not necessarily mean that core principles have been met, and meaningful engagement achieved. Furthermore, a stakeholder may hold a positive attitude toward the company but could still be in opposition to a project/activity and therefore the attitude of a stakeholder should not be considered in isolation. Accordingly, other KPIs will need to be used in tandem to provide an accurate reflection of reality.