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Theory of Use - Dissemination Plan of Action

The report is not the product. The insights are.

Theory of Use is a practical framework for planning and evaluating dissemination: which insights, for which audiences, through which mechanisms.

Re: Theory of Use Free Resources

Chris Lysy: Dissemination Guy & Evaluation Cartoonist
Just a few of my past clients

Main Content

Writing long technical reports is not only okay, it’s essential.

Keep the nerd report. It might even be the ideal first step. The problem comes after it, when someone needs to take responsibility for getting the findings to the people who could use them.

Theory of Use is more than a framework, it's a dissemination plan of action.

Not sure how they did it. It's only a 3 page executive summary but it reads like a 50 page report.

The 4 Essential Questions

1. What do you want people to know or do? Start with the insights, not the report.

2. Who needs each insight? Is your audience your client, your community, influencers, your peers, or the public?

3. How will it get there? What is the mechanism? Who says it, where, and in what form?

4. How will you measure progress? Monitor reach and circulation so you can course correct.

I built Theory of Use because I needed it.

While supporting the CDC’s Overdose Data to Action program, I was asked for practical advice on dissemination. I couldn’t find any I trusted, so I made my own.

I planned to write a basic guide on reporting and modern communications. I didn't expect the new guide would change my mindset and completely transform my reporting process (for the better!)

But that's what it did, and now I use it with all of my clients and projects.

Would you like to learn more about Theory of Use?

I suggest starting with this guide. It's an illustrated quick read written to help you get started.

Read the Guide

Featured Resources

Need a Laugh?

Or an evaluation comic for your next presentation? This post is the best place to start, with over one hundred audience favorites drawn over the last 15+ years.

Evaluation Cartoons

Ready to Rethink Reporting?

The Reporting Revolution is my free-to-read book on creating reports that people will actually use.

The Reporting Revolution

Want to Illustrate your Qualitative?

Compelling Qualitative Data Visualization is my free-to-read book on making qualitative reports visual.

Compelling Qualitative Data Visualization

Work with me.

Want to get more value out of your reporting? Whether you just need a theory of use sprint, some design support, a single workshop, or a full dissemination strategy transformation, I can help.

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