evaluation

Systems and Complexity: Implications for Evaluation

This second in a series on Principles-Focused Evaluation (PFE) draws our attention to the concepts of systems and complexity and how can PFE help us navigate both. Systems (thinking), complexity, and principles all go together. Principles-focused Evaluation (PFE) brings them together in meaningful ways, but to understand that, we first need to understand what we …

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Principles-Focused Evaluation: A Series Introduction

What is a Principles-Focused Evaluation approach, and what does it offer those seeking to support change, adaptation, and innovation? This first in a series of posts will introduce you to an approach to strategic innovation and evaluation for complex situations. Principles-Focused Evaluation (PFE) is an approach to generating value in complex situations. It is an …

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Design-Driven Evaluation and System Change

Our designs drive systems change as much as anything and feedback drives good design. Feedback comes from evaluation so it makes sense that the two should work together. This is a version of a post I recently contributed to the American Evaluation Association’s AEA365 blog. Developmental Evaluation is a specific approach to strategic learning suited …

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What is Evaluation? (And Why You Should Care)

Evaluation is a term that requires some rehabilitation. The term isn’t incorrect or outdated, just poorly understood and not much appreciated. That is unfortunate because it is a field, practice, and habit that every innovator and change-maker could benefit from knowing intimately. In this article, I’m going to outline why and what we might do …

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Design Thinking for Evaluation

Design thinking for evaluation is about expanding possibilities for both design and evaluation together. Design thinking and evaluation are intimately connected, yet rarely discussed together. When most professional evaluators think of the word ‘design’ they typically think of program design. Design thinking focuses our thoughts on how things are made and that includes evaluations themselves. …

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