Using the Constraints Box

Planners or implementers do not have complete control over the critical details of their intervention. There are constraints they are operating under which can guide or, in some cases, determine the details.

Using the Constraints Box

While you are doing a critical detail map, check the details to determine if any of them are influenced or directed by entities in the constraints box. Where the details are constrained, are there negative impacts or likely to be negative impacts? When there are negative impacts based in a constraint, are there options for shifting or educating the constraint?

This is a moment when many interveners throw up their hands and say, “I can’t change. My donor/HQ/mandate makes me do it!” This reaction is an example of Powerlessness. The person crying out has given away his or her efficacy and creativity, two things no interveners should ever be without.

The best method for changing something that appears to be constrained is conversation. Do No Harm offers a very good way to structure a conversation with a desk officer or a donor. The reason Do No Harm is effective is because it offers real evidence of the relationships between decision making and the social dynamics in a context.

Once upon a time, at a Do No Harm Consultation, a field worker raised a problem he was having and some possible solutions. “But,” he concluded, “my headquarters will not allow me to change my implementation.”
 
As chance would have it, the desk officer from HQ was also at the Consultation. He looked up, startled, at his colleague and said, “You never asked! Of course you can change.”
 
A few hours later, the same desk officer was describing in great detail how he wished he could alter some pieces of a big program so that it would have a more significant impact. “But,” he concluded, “my donor will not allow me to change the program.”
 
As chance would have it, the desk officer from the donor was sitting at the end of the table. She said, wryly, “You never asked. Your detailed analysis has convinced me. Of course you can change.”

Previous Page Headquarters
Next Page Impact Analysis

Related Topics
Mandate
Fundraising and Donors
Mapping with the Constraints Box
Critical Detail Mapping
The Relationship Framework

78 Comments

  1. I’ll immediately grab your rss feed as I can’t find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  2. Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and simply couldn’t come across. What a perfect website.

  3. Howdy I am so grateful I found your webpage, I really found you by accident, while I was looking on Askjeeve for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks a lot for a incredible post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the awesome work.

  4. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to find any person with some original thoughts on this subject. realy thanks for beginning this up. this website is something that’s wanted on the internet, somebody with a little originality. useful job for bringing something new to the web!

  5. I do love the manner in which you have framed this problem plus it does indeed give me personally a lot of fodder for consideration. Nonetheless, coming from what precisely I have personally seen, I basically hope when the feed-back pile on that people today keep on point and don’t embark upon a tirade involving some other news of the day. Anyway, thank you for this excellent piece and though I do not concur with the idea in totality, I respect your point of view.

  6. I am not sure the place you are getting your information, however good topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent information I used to be on the lookout for this info for my mission.

  7. I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Studying this info So i am happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much no doubt will make certain to don’t overlook this site and provides it a look on a continuing basis.

  8. Hello! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the excellent work!

  9. It’s actually a great and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  10. You could definitely see your enthusiasm in the paintings you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. At all times follow your heart.

  11. Nice weblog here! Additionally your site so much up fast! What web host are you the usage of? Can I get your affiliate link for your host? I desire my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  12. I got what you mean , regards for putting up.Woh I am delighted to find this website through google. “Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up by itself.” by Woodrow Wilson.

  13. Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.

  14. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.

  15. Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and everything. Nevertheless imagine if you added some great photos or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and video clips, this blog could undeniably be one of the greatest in its niche. Fantastic blog!

  16. Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a forty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  17. Hey there! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the excellent work!

  18. Good day very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionallyKI am satisfied to find a lot of helpful information here in the put up, we need develop extra strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  19. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So good to seek out any individual with some original ideas on this subject. realy thanks for starting this up. this website is one thing that is wanted on the internet, someone with a little originality. helpful job for bringing one thing new to the web!

  20. I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.

  21. Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thank you However I’m experiencing subject with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting similar rss downside? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

  22. Nice post. I study one thing more difficult on completely different blogs everyday. It will all the time be stimulating to read content from different writers and apply a bit one thing from their store. I’d want to make use of some with the content on my weblog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

  23. Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you?¦ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What a perfect web site.

  24. I was just seeking this info for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your website. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Normally the top sites are full of garbage.

  25. I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to achieve my goals. I absolutely enjoy reading everything that is written on your website.Keep the information coming. I loved it!

  26. https://irancharter.ir/ran Charter ( ایران چارتر ) is Iran’s first online charter and flight ticket purchase system Charter,as the first comprehensive online ticket service provider of charter airline tickets,seeks to provide easy and convenient services to customers for easy purchase of airline tickets,so we believe that the first principle of e-commerce is the ease of operation, with a contract As a ticket supplier,We have made it easy for you with charter companies and different airlines.

  27. I have been surfing online more than 3 hours lately, but I never found any interesting article like yours. It is lovely value enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the internet will probably be much more useful than ever before.

  28. Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!

  29. Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Safari. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Thanks

  30. Its superb as your other blog posts : D, thanks for posting. “Age is a function of mind over matter if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” by Leroy Robert Satchel Paige.

  31. Fantastic web site. Lots of helpful info here. I’m sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you in your effort!

  32. I do like the manner in which you have presented this specific matter plus it really does give me personally a lot of fodder for consideration. Nevertheless, through everything that I have observed, I really trust as the actual responses pack on that folks remain on point and in no way start on a tirade of the news of the day. Still, thank you for this superb point and whilst I do not agree with this in totality, I value the standpoint.

  33. hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise some technical issues using this site, as I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again very soon..

  34. Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your website is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What an ideal web-site.

Leave a Reply

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>