What is evaluation?
The Center for Program Evaluation defines evaluation as a "systematic, objective process for determining the success of a policy or program ... and to what extent the policy or program is achieving its goals."
Why do some schools, agencies, and companies not conduct evaluations?
They may think that they do not know how to conduct effective evaluations. The words often used in evaluation such as data, research, and statistics are often seen as abstract ideas that cannot be applied or have valued in the real world. Although evaluation does incorporate these words, evaluation also involves such words as success, strengths, positive impact, and collaboration. Also, agencies may not have the expertise, time, budget, software, and related resources that leads to effective evaluation.
What are the benefits of organizational evaluation?
To better understand the whats, whys, and hows of your project.
To determine the impact of the program on the clients whom the program serves.
To address whether the program impact is what was proposed or not, and if the impact is positive, negative, or unexpected.
To obtain information on aspects of a project that work well, that work okay, and that do not work very well; and to find solutions to resolve and refine the project.
To guide further evaluation. This can entail further examination of a specific component of a project and to develop long-term evaluation plans.
To provide support and evidence of project effectiveness. This can result in continuation of grant funding and can result in additional funding.
To disseminate findings of the effectiveness of the project, increase community awareness and support, and to expand and/or duplicate services.
Who would benefit from evaluation?
For agencies and businesses: What is your organization "health"? Are your policies and procedures relevant and effective? Are your employees satisfied in their roles? How has the economy impacted your company? What is the future in your field and how can you market for it? What are your barriers to succes and how can you overcome these barriers? What are your long term goals and how can you reach them? How can you recruit highly qualified and committed employees?
For schools: How does a certain teaching style increase student academic performance? Is a certain curriculum, textbook, or other means of transmitting information more effective than others? What do the state test scores really mean and how can you effectively measure academic success? How can you attract and retain quality teachers? What are the individual, family, and community factors that promote or prevent students' academic success and how can you address them? How do athletics and the arts impact academic success? What are the greatest needs of your students and what programs or projects can be utilized to address these needs?
For social service agencies: How can you provide the most effective services within budget constraints? What are the programs that you provide that show the greatest impact in improving your clients' well-being? What are the most effective intervention or treatment modalities for a certain population you work with? What are the predictors of employee burn-out and how can you reduce burn-out? What training and/or certification programs would best help your staff? How can you reach and provide services to "high risk" populations? How can you expand our services?
For medical communities: What are the biggest health and medical issues you face and how can you best address them? What coping styles influence how a client "deals" with his/her medical issue(s)? What are the greatest medical problems in the future and how can you help to prevent or reduce these problems? What are some environmental factors that may be related to increased rates of certain disorders and diseases?
