Compassion Benchmark
ACT · Compassion Benchmark Dimension

What is the Action score?

Action (ACT) is one of the 8 core dimensions in the Compassion Benchmark framework — the independent 0–100 scoring system applied to governments, companies, AI labs, robotics labs, and cities. Action measures whether awareness and empathy translate into genuinely useful responses — specific, accurate, locally relevant, and proportionate to urgency.

Actionis scored using 5 anchored subdimensions, each rated 0–5 against documented evidence. Those subdimension scores combine into the entity's ACT dimension score, which contributes equally alongside the other 7 dimensions to the entity's overall composite score and performance band.

Read full MethodologyAll 8 Dimensions

The 5 Action subdimensions

Each subdimension is a specific assessment question, scored 0–5 against a behavioral anchor ladder from documented evidence.

AC1

Responsiveness

Do identified needs receive timely, appropriately prioritized responses?

0–5 anchor scale for AC1
  1. No defined response standards, urgency not differentiated
  2. Standards exist but not consistently met
  3. Standards met for most cases, some escalation authority
  4. Response data published, urgency documented, frontline authority
  5. Disaggregated by population, fastest to highest need, verified

AC2

Proportionality

Is help calibrated to actual need, not to what is easiest to provide?

0–5 anchor scale for AC2
  1. Standard response regardless of need level
  2. Needs assessment on paper, resources drive response
  3. Genuinely informs response in most cases
  4. Documented augmented responses, unmet need tracked
  5. Resources demonstrably flow to highest-need, unmet need published

AC3

Efficacy

Does the help actually work — or does it generate activity that looks like help?

0–5 anchor scale for AC3
  1. No outcome measurement beyond activity metrics
  2. Some outcome data collected but not reviewed
  3. Outcome data reviewed annually, ≥1 program modified
  4. ≥1 program discontinued due to data, community confirms change
  5. Independent evaluation acted upon even when unflattering

AC4

Resource Mobilization

Does this entity bring genuinely adequate resources to bear?

0–5 anchor scale for AC4
  1. Resource allocation by historical patterns, not need
  2. Gaps acknowledged, no effort to close them
  3. Gap analysis completed, ≥1 attempt to mobilize additional
  4. Annual review against need data, documented reallocation
  5. 3-year budget trend toward highest-need, gap publicly disclosed

AC5

Follow-Through

Does this entity persist, or disengage when attention moves on?

0–5 anchor scale for AC5
  1. Engagement ends when presenting problem resolved
  2. Follow-up in some cases, not systematic
  3. Defined protocols for some population types
  4. Protocols applied consistently, longitudinal data
  5. Multi-year longitudinal outcomes published, community confirms

Frequently asked questions

What is the Action score?
Action measures whether awareness and empathy translate into genuinely useful responses — specific, accurate, locally relevant, and proportionate to urgency.
What does Action (ACT) measure?
Does compassionate understanding translate into real, proportional, effective help?
How many subdimensions make up Action?
Action is scored across 5 subdimensions: AC1 (Responsiveness), AC2 (Proportionality), AC3 (Efficacy), AC4 (Resource Mobilization), AC5 (Follow-Through).
How is the Action score calculated?
Each of the 5 Action subdimensions is scored 0–5 against an anchored behavioral scale. The 5 subdimension scores combine into a ACT dimension score, which is averaged with the other 7 dimensions and converted into the entity's 0–100 composite score. See the full methodology for the exact formula.
Read full MethodologyAll 8 DimensionsGlossary