Publication
COMPASS User Guide (Collaboration Objective Mapping for Proactive Action and Strategic Solutions
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
COMPASS is a structured planning tool that guides workshop participants through a step-by-step process to co-design a strategic and actionable plan for meaningful change. It helps identify strengths, weaknesses, barriers, and opportunities to develop a clear and logical path forward.
By integrating elements of Appreciative Inquiry, Theory of Change, and SWOT analysis, COMPASS provides a cohesive framework for effective impact planning. Designed for collaborative workshops, it facilitates co-development among key parties, ensuring that the resulting plan is both practical and aligned with shared goals.
Developed by Jen Lockett and Dawn Ashby at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), COMPASS was originally created as a research impact planning tool. It has been successfully tested for this purpose and has since proven valuable as a broader planning framework, such as for team development
The COMPASS User guide is available to download below.
The poster is also available here
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Cite this publication
Plymouth Marine Laboratory. 2025. Collaborative Objective Mapping for Proactive Action and Strategic Solutions (COMPASS) – User Guide. PML Publishing, UK. 4pp. DOI: 10.17031/5WBR-Q330
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