| Session Title: Evaluation Capacity Building Within a Self-organizing Systems Framework |
| Think Tank Session 769 to be held in International Ballroom A on Saturday, November 10, 12:10 PM to 1:40 PM |
| Sponsored by the Presidential Strand and the Organizational Learning and Evaluation Capacity Building TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Beverly Parsons, InSites, bevandpar@aol.com |
| Dawn Hanson Smart, Clegg & Associates, dsmart@cleggassociates.com |
| Abstract: This think tank is a chance for evaluators to talk together about different approaches to evaluation capacity building (ECB) based on two different orientations to social systems. One orientation looks at systems as predictable with stated outcomes and processes/activities that lead to the outcomes. The second assumes at least some aspects of the system are self-organizing and are unplanned. This session will provide the opportunity to explore how these different orientations shape ECB. It will open with a presentation on the differences in the two systems orientations and will present three examples of ECB that illustrate differences that are likely depending on which view of systems one is using. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss differences in ECB based on these different views of systems including how ECB may differ from the perspectives of evaluator and client and the role of ECB within organizations. |