I'm in the middle of a project: Planning & Doing Phase

Step 6: Define Goals and Manage External Demands

picture_define_progress_and_requirements.jpgThe success of your project often depends on how well you have outlined your goals and desired outcomes. In order to track how close or far  to reaching the goals and producing the outcomes you are, you need to set indicators that will be your "signposts' along the way.
Key Instructions: 
1. Use the Tool: Define Goals and Manage External Demands to define and manage your project’s success indicators.
2. Save the information and criteria you have developed and use them to assess your project at key milestones during the implementation (Step 13: Evaluate and Improve).
3.  If you need more advice on success criteria and the related indicators and baselines, see Backgrounds: Why is it important to track your progress? and Quantify and qualify project success.
 

Step 7: Plan for and with your target group

iStock_000001434245XSmall.jpgYou depend on your target group for reaching your aim of saving energy, so you need to find a reason for them to participate. This is easiest by designing your project to meet your target group's needs. We call this a 'bottom-up' approach.

Key Instructions: 
  1. Assess the flexibility of various aspects of your project (see Tools: Assess your project's flexibility).
  2. Consider what aspects of your project are ‘fixed’ and what can be changed if your target group or stakeholders have different ideas.
  3. Decide on the balance between 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' elements in your project: where can you adapt your project to your target groups' and stakeholders' needs, and where do you need to stick to your own plans?
Further Reading: 

Further resources on models of behaviour change.

 

Step 11: Motivate through feedback

DSC04198.jpgFeedback reinforces change. To keep the process of change going, you need to provide feedback that motivates your target group and stakeholders. Visible achievements will renew and reinforce enthusiasm to continue. Feedback can be about:

Key Instructions: 
  1. Decide on which target group needs feedback and on what. 
  2. Select the appropriate time for giving feedback (see Step 13 for how to define milestones).
  3. Select the best format and media for your target group.
  4. Decide how frequently this information will be provided; keeping in mind your project's resources and your target group's needs.
  5. Tailor and adapt your message to the needs and interests of your target group.
  6. Remember to avoid information overload: concise and clear messages go a long way.
  7. Make sure your feedback helps people understand why goals have (or have not) been achieved. It is important that your feedback is encouraging and positive.
You can use the Tool: How to motivate with feedback and its checklist to organise your feedback efforts.  
Further Reading: 

Further resources on the effectiveness of consumption feedback

 

Step 10: Engage your target group

engage_your_target_group.jpgIn addition to the basic instruments (Step 8), there are various ways to get your target group 'on board' and engaged with your project. Finding the right combination of rational, emotional and social elements to support your intervention may be crucial for success.

Key Instructions: 
  1. Select the appropriate tools for your project:  see Tools for influencing habitual behaviour or Tools for influencing efficiency investments.
  2. Remember to also think about how to engage your target group's social environment: see Tools for engaging the community.
  3. Consider whether the tools fit your particular context.
  4. Apply your tools sensitively and flexibly: be prepared to change your approach if things don't work as planned.
Further Reading: 

Further resources on target group engagement

 

Step 9: Test your ideas

iStock_000004504871XSmall.jpgWhen you have designed your intervention, it is important to test whether it works before you roll it out on a large scale. This is important because:

Key Instructions: 
  1. Prepare material for presentation of your ideas and plans.
  2. Test your ideas and plans and make notes of the comments and ideas you get (see Tools: Testing your project plans).
  3. Revise your ideas and plans according to the feedback you received.
 

Step 8: Select and adapt your instruments

lampun_vaihtaminen.jpgTypical instruments for promoting energy saving include financial support and services, information and education campaigns, metering and feedback, energy audits, energy advice and voluntary commitments and programmes.

If you know what problem you are trying to address (see Step 1: Pinpoint your Problem), it is easier to select the right instruments to solve it.

Key Instructions: 

1. Select the appropriate instruments for your problem (see introductions in Tools: Tailor your instruments to context). If you need extra help, we recommend the Digital Instrument Planner offered by Agency NL.

2. Decide how to adapt them to your context (see advice in Tools: Tailor your instruments to context).

3. If necessary, read more about each instrument (see Backgrounds: Instruments to promote energy savings). They also give more detailed advice on success factors and how to adapt your instruments to context.

Further Reading: 

Further resources on adapting various instruments:

Communication campaigns

Climate change pledges

Consumption feedback

Energy audits and advice

 

 
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