iDepend is a cloud based tool that uses a technique called dependency modelling. You may find it useful if your answer is YES to these questions: 1. Do you encounter complex situations in your work, for example having to think about how the environment, business and society impact and relate to each other? 2. Do you have a lot of possible choices but find it hard to decide on the best course of action? 3. Do you have access to tools and guidance but find that they do not always give you the right information to make good decisions?

1. Duncan Giddens
June 2015
iDepend
A tool for
Choosing
Interventions
A
B
C

2. Business value chain

3. Business
Skills and
knowledge
Technology
CustomersSuppliers
Natural
environment
Shareholders
/ financiers
Citizens,
civic/
community
groups,
media
Other
businesses/
trade
groups
Products and
services
Requirements
Products and
services
Requirements
Investment &
returns
Sectoral
cooperation &
competition
Influences on business environmental performance
Source: Draft Instrument Selection
Guide, Defra 2013
Reputational
pressure &
stakeholder
involvement
Sustainable
resource/
ecosystem service
use constraints

4. Regulatory model
Choose
intervention(s)
Evaluate
intervention(s)
Desired state or
outcome
Use
intervention(s)

5. How do you use choose the right interventions?
How can iDepend help?
Inspections
Guidance
Recognition and rewards
Management Systems
Standards
Sanctions
Financial incentives
Advice

6. 1. Model approach for choosing interventions
2. iDepend Modelling Tool
3. User guide to help choose interventions for
environmental regulation
4. Resources on Regulatory Evidence Network (REN)
Choosing Interventions Toolkit

7. What is the Issue?:
current, desired, what
needs to change?
Who is the target
business
community?:
Identify; Assess;
Segment into
groups
What
interventions are
available?
Currently used,
what else is
available? what
suits each business
group?
Who can deliver
interventions?
What are your remit,
powers etc? Which
other delivery
agents might be
used?
Preferred
interventions and
delivery agents for
each business
group:
Choosing
Appropriate
Interventions
Possible Interventions
Model for choosing interventions

8. 1. Cloud based and intuitive
• On the internet, easy to use and free of charge
• Anyone can access the basic tool
• IMPEL members have additional features
2. Dependency modelling tool
• Define goals to be achieved
• Assemble dependencies
• Identify critical dependencies (‘risks’)
• Likelihood of achieving the goals
3. Aid to decision making
• Improves understanding and visibility of issues
• Enables different interventions to be compared
• Allows models to be developed and shared with other users
• Stores information and provides an audit trail
iDepend Modelling Tool

9. External influences
incentives good
business behaviour
Several
Interventions
are available
Delivery
agents
available
Let’s see this in a dependency model
Desired state. Eg
environmental or
regulatory
outcome
Businesses
behaviour
and response
is favourable

10. How do you decide what is most important?
Environmental
management system
effective in assuring
compliance
Regulatory
tools fit for
purpose
Training given
to regulator’s
staff
Compliance
rules clear
and
understood
Expectations
for EMS
communicated
to staff
Internal audits
carried out by
company
Compliance
checked and
acted on
Strong
political
support
Use of EMS
cost effective
for regulator
Operator
willing and
competent
Regulator
willing and
competent
Regulatory
process for
using EMS
clear
Training given
to operator’s
staff
Regulator‘s
management
committed to
using EMS

11. Build a dependency model to
show critical dependencies
GOAL
Environmental
management systems
are effective in assuring
compliance
Operator willing
and competent to
use EMS
Regulator willing
and competent to
use EMS
1st
order dependencies 2nd
order dependencies 3rd
order dependencies
Compliance
checked and
acted on
Regulatory
process for using
EMS clear and
understood
Regulator’s
management
committed to
using EMS
Compliance rules
for EMS clear and
understood Training given to
operator’s staff
Internal audits
carried out
Management act
on audit results
Expectations
communicated to
operator’s staff
Regulatory tools fit
for purpose
Strong political
support
Use of EMS cost
effective for
regulator
Training given to
regulator’s staff

12. Predict how an intervention might improve the chances
of achieving your goal

14. 1. Regulatory Evidence Network (point of access, user guide and
webinar):
https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/evidence/idepend
2. Final IMPEL report:
http://impel.eu/projects/choosing-appropriate-interventions-phase-3.
3. iDepend resources - http://www.cambrensis.org
4. Lead contact - duncan.giddens@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Useful links and information