Although the extent to which MSC is implemented varies considerably depending on the context, the steps below are considered essential to the MSC process regardless of whether it is being used for monitoring or evaluation.

• Collect stories
• Review & filter stories regularly (selection)
• Discuss & communicate the results of selection (feedback)

Collection

Central to MSC is the ‘story’ that is captured in relation to what a particular individual considers to be “significant”. This story is documented so that it can be reviewed by a number of different people. The documented story then acts as a basis for discussion about what is important and this can then lead to a shared understanding about what you are trying to achieve and improvements to project activities.

Example story collection guide

Selection

Central to MSC is the review and selection of stories. This is where most learning occurs as the process encourages an in-depth conversation about the initiative in question. During selection stories are analysed for meaning and outcomes. The selection process is therefore a form of reflective practice, something which is often lacking in project management.

The reasons for selecting an SC story as the most significant should be documented and attached to the story. Explanations should be more than a few key words, such as ‘more sustainable’ or ‘gender equity’. Full sentences should be used to express what was seen as significant in the selected SC story. If multiple criteria were used to justify the selection of a story, these should be listed along with an explanation of their relative importance.

There are different approaches to organising a selection process and the structure depends on the particular programmatic or organisational context. Selection structures normally reflect the organisational structure whether that be hierarchical or flat.

Feedback

Feedback is important in all monitoring, evaluation and learning-oriented systems, and MSC is no exception. The results of a selection process must be fed back to those who provided the SC stories. At the very least, this feedback should explain which SC was selected as most significant and why.

Feedback about why a selection was made can expand or challenge participants’ views of what is significant. Feedback about the selection process can help participants to assess the quality of the collective judgments that were made. Feedback also shows that others have read and engaged with the SC stories-rather than simply filed them, which is the unfortunate fate of a lot of monitoring data.

Providing feedback about what was selected, and why and how, can potentially complete a communication loop between different levels of participants in an organisation. In doing so, it can create an ongoing dialogue about what significant change actually is and can inform the future direction of a program.