Theory of Change (ToC) has been promoted as a useful tool in sustainability research for visioning, planning, communication, monitoring, evaluation and learning. It involves a mapping of steps towards a desired long-term goal supplemented with continuous reflection on how and why change is expected to happen in a particular context. However, there is limited reported experience with the development and application of ToCs in inter- and transdisciplinary research contexts. While some previous publications have focused on ex-post application, there has been little discussion about the process of developing and using ToCs in strategic planning and monitoring in large inter- and transdisciplinary research programs. This article reports challenges and lessons learned from the experience of developing and using ToCs in the inter- and transdisciplinary research program Wings (Water and sanitation innovations for non-grid solutions). Challenges include (1) managing time constraints, (2) balancing between concrete and abstract discussions, (3) ensuring diversity in group composition, (4) fluctuating between reservations and appreciation, and (5) fulfilling both service and science roles while leading the ToC process. The experience highlights the importance of alternating formal and informal interaction formats throughout the process, ensuring heterogenous group formation, involving early career scientists, being responsive to emergent needs and making the added value of developing and using ToCs explicit and tangible for all participants. Although these lessons are mainly derived from developing ToCs within the interdisciplinary program team, they can support other programs in both their inter- and transdisciplinary research endeavors.

变革理论（ToC）已被推广为可持续发展研究中的有用工具，用于远见，规划，沟通，监测，评估和学习。它涉及到实现预期的长期目标的步骤映射，并辅之以不断反思在特定情况下预期如何以及为什么发生变化的方法。但是，在跨学科和跨学科研究背景下，ToC的开发和应用的报道经验有限。尽管以前的一些出版物集中于事后应用，但很少有关于在跨学科和跨学科研究计划的战略规划和监控中开发和使用ToC的过程的讨论。翼（w ^亚特和卫生我nnovations为Ñ导通克RID小号olutions）。挑战包括（1）管理时间限制，（2）在具体讨论与抽象讨论之间取得平衡，（3）确保团队组成的多样性，（4）在保留与欣赏之间波动，以及（5）在担任领导职务的同时履行服务和科学作用ToC流程。经验凸显了在整个过程中交替使用正式和非正式交互格式的重要性，这要确保早期职业科学家参与的异类组形成，对紧急需求做出响应并为所有参与者明确和有形地开发和使用ToC的附加价值。尽管这些课程主要来自跨学科计划团队内部开发的ToC，但它们可以在跨学科和跨学科研究工作中为其他计划提供支持。