Short List to Build Evaluation Culture in Organizations

There is nothing harder than starting out to evaluate a new program. Well, actually it is easier to evaluate a new program than to evaluate a program that has already been running for a time. Here is a short list of things to consider when beginning to evaluate a program - something to get you started:

1. Start with the leaders and gain their approval - as high up as you can go.
2. Then double back and gain approval from the line staff, the personnel who do all of the work, and who will probably provide most of the information for the evaluation.
3. Learn as much as you can about the work culture and the details of the activities that people do.
4. Use some form of structured logic modeling to organize what you learn about the organization, and detail the goals and objectives of the program, the resources used, the activities enacted to meet the goals and objectives, the direct products (or outputs) of the activities, and the immediate, intermediate and long-term outcomes.
5. Brainstorm what would be an observable indicator for each objective and outcome.
6. For each indicator establish a data source and collection method with a schedule and responsible personnel identified.
7. Share with leaders and line staff and revise, revise, and revise until everyone is sick of it or agrees it is the best plan.
8. Congratulations, you are well on your way if you have gone this far.