Visualize and Decide
Customized Dashboards in Monitoring and Tracking the Social Impact of Construction Programs
I’ve been meaning to write this essay for some time. Even as I write it, I feel it is a subject I will come back to again and again and try to refine what it is I’m saying. The measurement of time, cost and quality have been at the heart of project management since a time before most of us can remember. As the profession has developed, the evolution of mega-project management and program management (management of multiple linked projects) emerging as a related but distinct discipline have been catalysts in the drive for control across a broader range of metrics.
When I analyze a program or individual project, I always try to get sight of strategic key performance indicators (SKPIs) as early as I can. It gives me a picture of what matters, at least in so far as what matters has been articulated and translated into measures. At this stage I’m looking for the ”why”, why does this program or project matter? It also helps me understand the “what”, what is being measured, at which point I’ll strive to understand “how” data is being collected, how often it is being updated, and how it is being shared.
Dashboards are the normal way to communicate data effectively to decision-makers, and in fact people at multiple levels in a program. Usually, an early activity close to mobilization of a program management team is to work with stakeholders to develop a dashboard.
When I’m involved at these stages the fundamental question I have in my mind is “who benefits from this program”? And having understood the benefits for different stakeholder groups I’ll look at social and community impact. Often programs will have objective statements that are essentially economic and social development goals. So I’ll look for these among the strategic KPIs, check how they are measured, the quality and currency of the data and so on.
In large scale construction and urban development programs, the ability to monitor and track social impact is crucial for ensuring that projects achieve their intended outcomes. Customized dashboards have emerged as essential tools in this process, offering tailored insights that can significantly enhance the effectiveness of urban development programs. This essay explores the importance of customized dashboards, provides examples of key metrics, and explains why different programs require different metrics.
The Role of Customized Dashboards
I keep going back to my notes from the University of Pennsylvania course I completed, Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators. In the course, three dominant models of social impact measurement are proposed.
Social Return on Investment (SROI)
Rating systems, and
Scorecards or dashboards
In this article I want to focus on dashboards, which I believe make the single most difference to achieving social impact goals in large urban development programs. I’ve written more on the broader topics in other articles as I feel all have a contribution to make.
Customized dashboards provide a visual representation of data, making it easier for stakeholders to understand complex information quickly. They allow for real-time monitoring and feedback, enabling program managers to make informed decisions promptly. By tailoring dashboards to the specific needs of a program, stakeholders can focus on the most relevant data, improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the program.
A mistake often made is to focus on real time data without context. Clear, straightforward trend analysis is crucial to dashboards moving beyond a hoped for “wow factor” into being aa reliable tool for effective, data-literate decisions.
Of course, they rely upon reliable, up-to-date, transparent data. It is an easy sentence to write, but a big, big challenge in practice.
Key Metrics and Their Importance
This essay is one where I’ve done a lot of talking and a lot of learning in putting it together. Dashboards are central to achieving the social impact mission. That without them, and without social value measures being aligned with the overall program dashboard, it will be hidden and targets will be missed.
Some of the high-level areas to consider are:
Employment Rates: Monitoring employment rates is crucial for urban development programs aimed at economic revitalization. For example, a dashboard tracking the impact of a new business district might include metrics on job creation, unemployment rates, and the number of local businesses established. These metrics help assess whether the development is contributing to economic growth and reducing unemployment.
Housing Affordability: In programs focused on housing development, metrics such as the number of affordable housing units built, average rent prices, and the percentage of income spent on housing are essential. These metrics provide insights into the program's effectiveness in addressing housing affordability and ensuring that residents have access to affordable living options.
Access to Services: Urban development programs often aim to improve access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and transportation. Key metrics might include the number of healthcare facilities, school enrollment rates, and public transportation usage. These metrics help evaluate whether the development is enhancing residents' quality of life by providing better access to essential services.
Environmental Impact: For programs with a focus on sustainability, metrics such as carbon emissions, energy consumption, and green space availability are important. These metrics help assess the environmental impact of the development and ensure that it aligns with sustainability goals.
Community Engagement: Metrics related to community engagement, such as the number of community meetings held, participation rates, and feedback from residents, are crucial for programs aimed at fostering community involvement. These metrics help evaluate whether the development is successfully engaging the community and addressing their needs and concerns.
These are broad themes. I’ve been developing a presentation deck over the last few weeks for a regional development agency, and a place to start is to develop the critical questions to explore in community conversations and from available data. From these critical questions key issues can be identified, analyzed in depth, and metrics developed.
The Need for Different Metrics in Different Programs
Different urban development programs have unique goals and objectives, which necessitate the use of different metrics. For example, a program focused on economic development will prioritize metrics related to job creation and business growth, while a program aimed at improving public health will focus on metrics such as healthcare access and disease prevalence. Customized dashboards allow for the selection of specific metrics that align with the program's goals, ensuring that stakeholders can monitor the most relevant data.
Moreover, the context and location of the program also influence the choice of metrics. For instance, a development program in a densely populated urban area might prioritize metrics related to transportation and housing density, while a program in a rural area might focus on metrics related to agricultural productivity and access to basic services.
Conclusion
Customized dashboards are indispensable tools for monitoring and tracking the social impact of urban development programs. They provide tailored insights that enhance the effectiveness of these programs by allowing stakeholders to focus on the most relevant data. By selecting key metrics that align with the program's goals and context, customized dashboards ensure that urban development initiatives achieve their intended outcomes and contribute to the overall well-being of the community.
I’d welcome feedback on this article and will keep developing this theme as we learn more and harvest collective wisdom.
Reference
University of Pennsylvania (2024), Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators.
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Footnote
My latest book, Delivering Social Value in Urban Development, is available on most Amazon portals - Delivering Social Value in Urban Development: Amazon.co.uk: Sandelands, Eric: 9798334988668: Books
Image courtesy of Tung Nguyen at Pixabay.