Demonstrating value in a sphere of influence

The research objective is to investigate the sources of, creation of, and challenges in determining hidden value in public service systems such that they can then influence stakeholders. There is a recognised need across the public sector to demonstrate value, but often this is challenging as the nature of the work means that clear outputs and outcomes cannot be attributed to people or teams. This can create tensions when trying to both evaluate and demonstrate value in a sphere of influence and understand how to shape that sphere, particularly when determining what sources of evidence are required for each of these activities. The aim of the research is to map the purpose, components, relationships and current behaviours of hidden value systems, to establish where, and how, systems-level change is developed. We aim to develop a view of the system that encompasses the complex elements as they work together, but also think about new, potentially emergent ideas of what value is, how it is created, and how it is made visible.