NCJ Number
61382
Date Published
1979
Length
249 pages
Annotation
A STRATEGY FOR EVALUATING AND IMPROVING GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE IS PRESENTED THAT ENCOMPASSES DESIGN EVALUATION, RAPID FEEDBACK EVALUATION, PERFORMANCE MONITORING, AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.
Abstract
THE STRATEGY IS INTENDED TO HELP GOVERNMENT MANAGERS CLARIFY THE INTENT OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND IMPROVE PROGRAM EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND RESPONSIVENESS. EVALUATION OF PROGRAM DESIGN OR 'EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT' FOCUSES ON OBJECTIVES, EXPECTATIONS, AND INFORMATION NEEDS OF PROGRAM MANAGERS; EXPLORES PROGRAM REALITY; ASSESSES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES WILL ACHIEVE MEASURABLE PROGRESS TOWARD PROGRAM OBJECTIVES; AND ASCERTAINS THE EXTENT TO WHICH EVALUATION INFORMATION IS LIKELY TO BE USED BY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT. PRODUCTS OF DESIGN EVALUATION ARE ACCEPTABLE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, IMPORTANT SIDE EFFECTS, AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS BY WHICH A PROGRAM CAN REALISTICALLY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, ALONG WITH EVALUATION-MANAGEMENT OPTIONS THAT REPRESENT WAYS IN WHICH MANAGEMENT CAN CHANGE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, OR USES OF INFORMATION TO IMPROVE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE. RAPID FEEDBACK EVALUATION SUMMARIZES READILY OBTAINABLE INFORMATION ON PROGRAM PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, ESTIMATES THE COST AND VALUE OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND PRESENTS DESIGNS FOR ONE OR MORE FULL-SCALE EVALUATIONS. PERFORMANCE MONITORING MEASURES PROGRAM PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND COMPARES PROGRAM PERFORMANCE WITH PRIOR OR EXPECTED PERFORMANCE. INTENSIVE EVALUATION USES COMPARISON OR CONTROL GROUPS TO ESTIMATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH PROGRAM RESULTS ARE CAUSED BY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. EACH COMPONENT IN THIS 'SEQUENTIAL PURCHASE OF INFORMATION' STRATEGY IS ILLUSTRATED BY EXAMPLES OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS, A DESCRIPTION OF IMPORTANT STEPS IN THAT PROCESS, AND A DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR AS EVALUATORS ATTEMPT TO PRODUCE USEFUL INFORMATION. PROCEDURES TO GUIDE MANAGERS OF EVALUATION OFFICES IN THE CREATION AND OPERATION OF DEMONSTRABLY USEFUL EVALUATION PROGRAMS ARE DETAILED. SUPPORTING FIGURES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. STEPS INVOLVED IN SAMPLE SURVEYS ARE NOTED IN AN APPENDIX, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED.