making the case for program evaluation chapter 1 csumb public administration 432 spring, 2015...
TRANSCRIPT
Making the Case for Program Evaluation
Chapter 1
CSUMB Public Administration 432
Spring, 2015
Key Principles
Vital for program: Effectiveness Quality Efficiency Reach Equity Ethical practice
Key Principles
Tension between: Needs and resources Helping few, helping many Self examination & business as usual Innovation and entrenched bureaucracy Program goals & environmental conditions Courage and fear
Poor past experiences
Caution:
Best Practices aren’t always best: Culture Socio-economic status Resource differential Delivery differential Skill level / training External events Recent events
Evaluation Perspectives
Client / Consumer / Patient Family members Focus population Funders & other stakeholders Agency / Organization Community of Practice
Essential Ingredients
Commitment to ethics Commitment to quality & continuous
improvement Time, funds, attitude
Quest for knowledge Ability for logic Ability to focus – separate wheat from chaff
Valuable Tool for Improvement
Purpose: assess content and delivery for effectiveness, efficiency, quality, reach, and/or equity
Critical to program success, and should not be treated as an after-thought
Need to engage stakeholders to influence agency decision-making Program staff & managers, focus population, funders