Performance Evaluation: Proven Approaches for Improving Program and Organizational Performance

CHALLENGES THAT EVALUATORS FACE

A common excuse for avoiding evaluation is insufficient resources to conduct one. In fact, it can often take more resources to maintain programs blindly and indefinitely than it does to conduct a rigorous and focused evaluation. The decision about whether to conduct an evaluation in the first place requires thinking about not only its cost but also the benefits it can render. Both cost and benefit categories contain monetary and nonmonetary items, and they should be honestly and carefully considered before making decisions about conducting or not conducting an evaluation.

One of the most serious challenges faced by evaluators—and probably researchers in general—is getting people to use the findings and recommendations. ...