Measuring Impact - Nicva

Impact assessment involving users 41
6.2.2 Stage two: Using interviews to develop thematic areas
In order to identify the characteristics and indicators of impact, an interview-based approach
was used. From the organisations identified in stage one using the system map, a further
group of voluntary sector service providers was recruited for interview. Their selection was
not random, but based on their relevance to the beneficiary group and their understanding of
the impact experienced by service users.
These organisations in turn were asked to identify interviewees who had benefited from the
activities of a wide range of voluntary sector service providers. Selection was again not
random, but based on their engagement with the organisation and its activities. After refusals
and cancellations, interviews were conducted with a diverse group of 21 service users.
Other related service provider organisations
EMEC works with recent arrivals within the context of other major service providers from
the voluntary sector. The following are the other key providers whose service users were
interviewed in this study:
• New Futures Inclusion Partnership (NFIP) is an independent project set up by
EMEC in partnership with other key providers that services ethnic minority individuals
with alcohol or drug addictions. As the organisation’s staff shares office space and is linemanaged
by EMEC, the two organisations work very closely.
• Positive Action in Housing assists ethnic minority and refugee communities to overcome
homelessness, racial harassment and poor housing through a casework/advocacy
service.The organisation sometimes takes on trainees from EMEC under Positive Action
in Housing’s Path project.
• San Jai Project aids and advises Glasgow’s Chinese community and asylum seekers who
speak Chinese languages.
• The Meridian Black and Ethnic Minority Women’s Project provides courses, respite
and development for Glasgow’s ethnic minority women over a wide range of ethnic minorities.
These interviews started with the question “what are the needs of service users that are met
by voluntary organisations” We were particularly interested in the different perspectives of
what impact might be. When designing the interview schedule our starting point was a framework
for these different perspectives: 13
• Structural system: the interviewee’s view of how the activity works in terms of
inputs, outputs and outcomes, as well as who is involved in the activity.
• Political system: the role of power relations and levels of self-determination in these
activities. How does the interviewee see their role in relation to others
• Social system: group activities, and how they impact on people’s relationships.
• Cultural system: the interviewee’s feelings about the value systems, ethics and
knowledge of the organisation.
13 These four perspectives are loosely based on Checkland’s (1990) three streams of enquiry in the tasks of ‘finding
out’ the problem situation in his description of Soft Systems Methodology.