Matt Keene and I have been having a back and forth on the topic of how management systems are built with respect to the way in which systems actually behave. Below is a record of our conversation to date. Jonny’s thoughts Desirability of Narrow Rigid Planning First, I don’t place any negative value judgments on … Continue reading Matching management systems to system behavior
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Using an evolutionary biology view to connect the intellectual development of evaluation and the development of the evaluation community
This post is an update to a post I did some time ago. I am adding to it based on some conversations I recently had at the annual meeting of the Canadian Evaluation Society. The topic I’m dealing with is the development of “Evaluation” through the lens of evolutionary biology. There are two related issues: … Continue reading Using an evolutionary biology view to connect the intellectual development of evaluation and the development of the evaluation community
Simple, Complicated, Complex and Chaotic VS. Complexity Science. Jonny finally resolved his confusion
Simple, Complicated, Complex and Chaotic VS. Complexity Science. Jonny finally resolved his confusion
A rolling conversation about the “Agreement x Certainty” space.
ECLIPS (Evaluation Communities of Learning, Inquiry, and Practice about Systems) is a project sponsored by the National Science Foundation to improve the evaluation programs that support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The project is housed at InSites. Beverly Parsons is the PI. I am on the advisory board. Recently I and some of the … Continue reading A rolling conversation about the “Agreement x Certainty” space.
Azenet Book Club – Life Cycles, Rigid evaluation requirements, and Implementation theory
Discussion in the first session of the Azenet Tucson book club -- th Theory; using explanatory power section with the introduction to life cycle behavior (p.49). The most common evaluation activity among our members is evaluation of state or federally funded programs (DOE, SAMHSA, OJJDP, BJA). Common characteristics: programs have a few years to implement an … Continue reading Azenet Book Club – Life Cycles, Rigid evaluation requirements, and Implementation theory
What is the relationship between path dependence and system stability? With explanation of why I care.
What is the relationship between path dependence and system stability?
Power Law Versus Symmetrical Distributions — Implications for Policy Recommendations
I’d bet that when people look at the results of an evaluation they think in terms of normal, or at least symmetrical distributions. They do not envision power law
Understanding sustainability – systems as a framework, thermodynamics as a metaphor
Understanding sustainability – systems as a framework, thermodynamics as a metaphor
Michael Bamberger has provided a case of unintended consequences: How a school breakfast program became a community nutrition program
How a school breakfast program became a community nutrition program
Follow-up to AEA Think Tank session: Identifying Unintended Consequences of Development Programs
Follow-up to AEA Think Tank session: Identifying Unintended Consequences of Development Programs
Evaluation Uncertainty 