Pasts, Presents, and Futures
Our understanding of situations are co-constructed and that means our future is, too. Shaping our future — at least one
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Michael Quinn Patton
Monitoring, Principles and Impotent Strategy
Without connecting monitoring of our programs with our principles and strategy, we are simply creating impotency in our organizations. The
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Doing Nothing: An Innovation Paradox
Strategy in chaos is like whitewater rafting — it needs stillness among the motion. Sometimes the best transformation and boldest action is doing nothing.
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Design-driven Evaluation
A greater push for inclusion of evaluation data to make decisions and support innovation is not generating value if there
Read moreDevelopmental Evaluation’s Traps
Developmental evaluation holds promise for product and service designers looking to understand the process, outcomes, and strategies of innovation and
Read moreSystems thinking and the simple plan
Planning is something that is done all the time, but the shape in which these plans unfold is often
Read moreThe Finger Pointing to the Moon
In social innovation we are at risk of confusing our stories of success for real, genuine impact. Without theories, implementation
Read moreDo you value (social) innovation?
The term evaluation has at its root the term value and to evaluate innovation means to assess the value that
Read moreBringing Design into Developmental Evaluation
Developmental evaluation is an approach to understanding and shaping programs in service of those who wish to grow and evolve
Read moreEvaluation and Design For Changing Conditions
If we are serious about addressing the social, political, health and environmental challenges posed to us in this age of global complexity we need to launch from these start points into something more sophisticated that brings these areas further together. The cross training of designers and evaluators and innovators of all stripes is a next step. So, too, is building the scholarship and research base for this emergent field of inquiry and practice. Better theories, evidence and examples will make it easier for all of us to lift the many boats needed to traverse these seas.
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