Process

Can be made on an individual basis or in groups consisting of representatives of various organisations. It is useful to invite several stakeholders to contribute. Takes around 1 to 2 hours to fill, if information is available.

Groundwork

To make a coverage matrix the suppliers should have been identified, e.g. with the help of an institutiogramme. If the coverage matrix is used to identify best implementers for a programme, however, it is best not to start with a complete institutiogramme. In that case an institutiogramme may narrow the identification of future options (if a project organisation used to do everything single-handedly and in isolation of others, this is not an argument to continue that way).

Another step to making a coverage matrix is to identify the target groups and products/services. This can be done unstructured, or in a more systematic way through an institutiogramme, a problem analysis and/or an environmental scan (although an environmental scan is more typically done after making a coverage matrix).

Requirements and limitations

It is difficult to determine the quantity of involvement, and the assessment may therefore be rather subjective. The matrix does not consider the quality of services/products. It also does not show existing co-operation, but an institutiogramme may complement a coverage matrix in this respect.

Practical references

• MDF Syllabus "Networking and Network Analysis" (2004)
• Norman Uphoff: Local Institutional Development: an analytical sourcebook with cases (1986)
• Wayne C. Baker: Networking Smart. How to develop relationships for personal and organisational success (1994)