System Perspectives – Page 2 – Evaluation Uncertainty

May 21, 2015May 24, 2019 jamorell Program Theory and Program Logic, System Perspectives

Case Study Example for Workshop 18: Systems as Program Theory and as Methodology

Case Study Example for Workshop 18: Systems as Program Theory and as Methodology: A Hands on Approach over the Evaluation Life Cycle This case was developed for a workshop at the American Evaluation Association's 2015 Summer Evaluation Institute. Construction of the Case This is the example we will use throughout this workshop to illustrate how … Continue reading Case Study Example for Workshop 18: Systems as Program Theory and as Methodology

July 29, 2013May 13, 2019 jamorell System Perspectives

Matching management systems to system behavior

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

March 8, 2011May 13, 2019 jamorell System Perspectives, Unintended consequences

Miscellaneous thoughts on complexity in Evaluation

How do concepts of "complexity" play in Evaluation?

Eat dessert first. Life is uncertain.
Good advice. True observation.

Any yet, we must soldier on, trying to predict what will happen and to explain why things work out as they do. My professional life has grappled with prediction and explanation through the lens of program evaluation. I have come to appreciate how much, and how little, evaluation can tell us. Sometimes it is “much”. Sometime is “little”. Sometimes it is “much” and “little” at the same time. This blog expresses my engagement with what evaluation can do, what it cannot do, what it should do, and what it should not do. About the graphic.