Helping those know they are close to achieving their objectives is one of the hardest tasks in guiding the execution of any planning process. Of course, it is this very issue that results in the failure of the initiation of any planning efforts. The questions, “What is it that we want to do, why, and how will we know when we have achieved the desired outcome of our planning efforts?” are basic “show stoppers.” Poorly executed military operations often are a result of not knowing how to plan for an exit strategy based on the answers to similar questions.
The approach to metrics (measuring outcomes) must be considered at the outset of any planning process. Therefore, we have come up with the following questions in sequence designed to help us evaluate our planning for sustainable peace rule sets:
- What is each principle?
- How do we define it?
- How do we measure it?
- How do we test it?
- How do we see it?
- How do we use it?
- What are the results when it is applied or used?
To see how we are thinking about approaching these questions let’s look at the rule Mercy (I refer you to a previously written albeit abridged definition for Mercy in this blog). The desire for mercy is an act of courage – for it is fear that leads us into failed strategies. Theologians would attribute this to our human condition of sin.
The desire for mercy is the beginning of a journey with others. The journey begins when we enter into the life story of the one offered mercy – the one whose wounds are being bound – the one whose story is allowed to be told and is reflectively heard – the story that causes us to ask the questions concerning how the wounding came about in the first place and what actions can be taken to prevent further wounding? This takes courage.
Previously stated, compassion is but one aspect of mercy and justice the other. It is possible to offer compassion as well as render justice without mercy. Often we offer compassion with no regard to being merciful – e.g.; a doctor treating an illness with little regard for the human dignity for the patient, or the casting of a few coins to an impoverished person without stopping to connect with the one who is in need. It takes time to enter into the journey of mercy. It is not easy. We will discover ourselves changed by the experience when we take the time to enter into a journey.
How do we measure acts of mercy in our planning actions? Well, one way might be to evaluate whether programs allow for people to feel safer and encouraged to offer themselves to others. Another might be to evaluate the way people are listening to one another – simply look at the opinion pages, observe our national political debates or attend a city council meeting to see the behavior offered. The bottom line test is whether or not the rate of wounding of persons and communities is rising, leveling off or decreasing.
This is how we are currently thinking about how to approach measuring the rule sets we have chosen in the process of planning for sustainable peace. The journey is just beginning and we need your input. How to measure our rule set is the major task before us.
Posted by John Fair 