Statistics tell stories. 

Tracking trends, gathering information, and analyzing data can inform a company or organization’s decision-making for years to come. But, statistics can also reveal problems.

Take gun control, for example, and the years of research that have gone into analyzing root causes and effects.

In the United States, gun control in the 21st century is one of the most persistent, controversial issues our society is still coming to grips with. Since the deadly and tragic Columbine mass shooting in 1999, America has seen close to 800 people lose their lives and at least 1223 people injured as a result of mass shootings (this is for mass shootings only – NOT all gun-related deaths and injuries).

On a broader scale, no country’s citizens own more guns than those in the United States. A survey conducted by BBC in 2018 showed that Yemen had the second-most firearms per 100 residents on average at 52.8. United States residents doubled that figure by a significant amount, coming in at nearly 120 firearms per 100 residents. 

The BBC also found that America experiences far more gun-related homicides than any other country by yet another wide margin. In the U.S. in 2019, approximately 73 percent of all homicides have been gun-related, compared to just 39 percent for the next closest nation (Canada).

Research and analysis of the implications of gun violence and gun control are only half the battle.

Mutually reinforcing activities are needed to create meaningful change in any reformation cause. Data, like that on gun ownership, will only paint a picture of what the problem looks like. However, data transparency, collaboration, and discipline around creating strategies will put the wheels of data into motion to drive collective impact on issues like gun control.

Non-profits and government organizations across the board try to achieve a better collective impact with hopes that it will further their success and efficiency of whatever they’re trying to accomplish. Collective Impact, described by John Kania and Mark Kramer, can be broken down into five categories: Common agendas, shared measurement systems, continuous communication, backbone support, and right in the middle of those four is, of course, mutually reinforcing activities.

Creating mutually reinforcing activities requires collecting data, examining it, and then using the resulting observations to synthesize collective strategies, reduce duplicative efforts, and maximize impact. This process can be accomplished in many ways.

One way of creating mutually reinforcing activities is by allowing contributors/funders to play to their strengths to minimize overlap and redundancy. When contributors can focus on a single aspect of a job they specialize in, it is easier to pinpoint exactly how they contribute. It also allows the organization to hold them accountable if need be.

Mutually reinforcing activities are also essential to implementing and maintaining progress through Results-Based Accountability (RBA). RBA helps ensure that action is taken thoughtfully and with discipline to generate measurable change within a community. An important step in doing so is identifying activities and actions with a high probability of effectiveness based on community needs and assessments. 

Regarding gun control, many strategies, policies, and actions are being taken across industries and sectors. Some of these are collective impact efforts, and others are individual. Many in the business community have taken more aggressive actions on gun control. For example, Citigroup enforced rules restricting the sale of guns by its business-banking customers. Additionally, Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Kroger raised the minimum age for gun purchases in their stores. 

We can also look to States for inspiration. Rhode Island implemented gun control laws specific to the needs revealed by their data analysis, including implementing a seven-day waiting period for firearms purchases and requiring background checks to buy a handgun from both public and private distributors. As a result, Rhode Island is among the states with the lowest death rates in the country over the past five years. 

Using these examples, we must find ways to create strategies with a high probability of success that reflect our individual communities and share the responsibility with different groups and industries based on their strengths. Prioritizing those tasks and dedicating the appropriate time and resources to the most important ones helps us organize our efforts and operate within a Results-Based Accountability standard.

Successful Collective Impact requires collaboration on a large scale to achieve large-scale results. Bringing in diverse players will bring diverse skills and resources to take your operation to the next level. These resources may include access to technology solutions to support data-driven decision-making, specifically in the public and social sectors. 

Given the current economic climate, it is difficult for some smaller organizations to maintain the levels of success necessary to achieve their intended collective impact. When resources are at a premium, bringing together many partners of all sizes can create a safety net to provide the data-driven technologies needed to inform decision-making. This can make all the difference in meeting goals and impacting change in our communities.

 For more information on Collective Impact and Results-Based Accountability, visit this link!