The PRISMS Method: Six Steps to Clarity Without Collapse

The PRISMS Method: Six Steps to Clarity Without Collapse

In the work of social change, clarity is often mistaken for simplicity. But true clarity doesn’t flatten complexity, it organizes it. That’s where the PRISMS method comes in.

PRISMS is a six-phase framework designed to help mission-driven teams align vision with action, without losing nuance. It’s not a linear checklist; it’s a rhythm, a refraction of strategy through human context.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Position
Start by understanding your context. What are the historical, political, or organizational forces shaping this moment? What constraints or opportunities are in play?

2. Resonance
Next, ground yourself in values. Who is this for? Why does it matter? This phase helps surface the emotional and ethical core of your work.

3. Infrastructure
Then look inward at your systems. What people, processes, and platforms are holding this work up? Where are the gaps or misalignments?

4. Solution Delivery
Now it’s time to build. Define the actual interventions — programs, products, policies — and clarify how they’re designed, delivered, and resourced.

5. Monitoring & Learning
How will you know what’s working? This step integrates evaluation and feedback loops into your strategy, using both data and story to support reflection.

6. Sustainment
Finally, ensure continuity. What does long-term impact look like? How do you build capacity, transfer ownership, or sunset responsibly?

Together, these six phases offer a way to see and hold the full system without oversimplifying it. Whether you’re designing a community initiative, launching a strategic plan, or evaluating impact, PRISMS gives you a clear structure that doesn’t collapse the complexity of your work. It illuminates it.