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Review your results

Goal

Understand your results, spot anomalies and finalise the weights before you decide on materiality.

Introduction​

Click Calculate results and your materiality matrix appears: impact materiality on one axis, financial materiality on the other, one marker per subtopic. The thresholds split the matrix into material, undecided and not material zones. Results rarely come out exactly as expected. Plan a week to go through them.

Each threshold is the average of your topic scores on that axis per IRO type - on the impact axis each topic contributes its highest positive and its highest negative impact score as two separate values, on the financial axis its highest risk and its highest opportunity score - and never lower than 3: if the average comes out below 3, the threshold is set at 3 instead. Check which of the two applies to your assessment before you read anything into the position of the lines. See How results are calculated.

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The materiality matrix at subtopic level, with the threshold lines, the undecided band and the list of material subtopics on the right.

Steps​

Step 1: Read the matrix​

  • Toggle between subtopic and topic level.
  • Hover a marker for its scores and click it for the IROs behind it.
  • Subtopics with no answer on one of the two axes are not plotted. They are in the details and in the report with the scores they have.

Step 2: Go through the details​

The details view lists every topic and subtopic with its scores per stakeholder group and per IRO, and the conclusion of the platform. Use it to answer "why is this material?": which IRO carries the subtopic, and which groups scored it high.

Step 3: Compare with the AI view​

Put the AI IRO scoring next to the stakeholder results. Three cases are worth your attention:

  • A subtopic the AI scored high that your stakeholders scored low. Did the right people answer? Did they understand the question?
  • The reverse. Do your stakeholders know something your documents did not say?
  • A subtopic that is material only through one group with one respondent. Is that representative?
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The matrix with the AI scores shown as a second layer next to the stakeholder results.

Step 4: Check the data​

  • Response counts per group. A group with one respondent should not decide a topic.
  • Comments. They often explain a surprising score.
  • Questions that were misunderstood. If several respondents comment that a question was unclear, consider lowering the weight of that group on that topic, or excluding the question, and note it.

Step 5: Adjust weights and recalculate​

You can change the topic weights per stakeholder group and recalculate as often as you need. Every change you make must be written down with its reason, before you recalculate. The Excel export shows the weights, and an auditor will ask about any deviation from Normal. Weights are a tool to correct bias, not to move a topic across the line.

If you believe the thresholds themselves are wrong for your company, ask us through the chat. See How results are calculated.

Step 6: Export the data​

Use the export button to download the Excel with every answer and every calculation step. See Review your DMA report.

Comparing with a previous DMA​

If you started from a previous DMA, switch on Show change to see how each subtopic moved. See Start from a previous DMA.

Output​

  • A materiality matrix at subtopic and topic level, with the thresholds and the undecided band drawn on it.
  • A written reason for every weight you changed, and the recalculated results that follow from it.
  • The Excel export with every answer and every calculation step.

Next: Decide on undecided topics.