Explain why the support of end users of the evaluation by the evaluator needs to be ongoing and consistent. Identify the types of support that an evaluator can provide to staff ensure evaluation use.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

First of all, agency staff at all levels have extremely full plates and the influence of even the most charismatic, insightful, skilled evaluator will wane immediately when the interest or commitment to evaluation is not routinely nourished with support. In addition, substantial forces within the agency support that status quo. These include but are not limited to staff comfort with a way of doing things; political forces that naturally resist change; and the scarcity of accompanying resources (e.g., staff time, training, etc.) that usually correspond with change. The emphasis on supporting evaluation consumers throughout the change process is vital, especially after some momentum has developed to support change. An evaluator can support staff using various strategies, including reminding the actors in the agency that they are doing the right thing on behalf of clients to something more active and complex. An evaluator could schedule routine meetings to plan, assess, and strategize the process of implementing and using the evaluation to inform the delivery of services. Support of the evaluation activity comes in two forms: support of the implementation of the evaluation and support of the users. While there may be overlap between the two, the evaluator needs to address both enterprises. Obviously, the evaluation must be implemented in a credible fashion, but the involvement of users needs to continue during the implementation. A temporary lack of involvement can be destructive, as many other competing distractions may derail any momentum toward possible use of the evaluation.