Evaluation Management How to Commission and Conduct Evaluations That Matter

"Against a backdrop of demanding technical requirements and a dynamic political environment, the goal of evaluation management is to develop, with available resources and time, valid and useful measurement information and findings, and ensure the quality of the process, products and services being evaluated. Management decisions influence methodological decisions and vice versa, as method choice has cost implications. This book provides students, and new and experienced evaluation professionals, with the strategies, tools and skills to: (1) develop realistic evaluation plans; (2) negotiate needed adjustments when issues arise; (3) organize and manage evaluation teams; (4) monitor evaluation activities and budgets; (5) protect evaluation independence and rigor while responding to client needs; and (6) ensure the quality of evaluation products and briefings. The book includes exercises and questions that students can answer about their own evaluation, which will make it especially useful for practicum courses and professional masters and doctorates, where the culminating project is not a thesis or dissertation but rather a completed evaluation report. The book will be very "how to" book, and include sample agendas, outlines and instructions for processes, forms and tips. Finally, it will have examples and cases that demonstrate real-life examples of situations and challenges that evaluation managers face, and how they were addressed"--