| In a 90 minute Roundtable session, the first
rotation uses the first 45 minutes and the second rotation uses the last 45 minutes.
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| Roundtable Rotation I:
The Consultant’s Conundrum: What if You are so Successful at Building Your Client’s Evaluation Capacity that You Build Yourself Out of a Job? |
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Roundtable Presentation 115 to be held in the Quartz Room Section B on Wednesday, Nov 5, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
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Sponsored by the Independent Consulting TIG
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| Presenter(s):
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| Julie Rainey,
Professional Data Analysts Inc,
jrainey@pdastats.com
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| Anne Betzner,
Professional Data Analysts Inc,
abetzner@pdastats.com
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| Abstract:
External evaluation consultants often give equal priority to building clients' evaluation capacity and conducting high quality evaluations. If the evaluator is successful, the client can take on more and more evaluation responsibilities until the evaluator finds her services are no longer needed. Is this situation to be envied or dreaded? Is it the natural life cycle of the evaluator/client relationship? What strategies can evaluators use as these relationships change? How can we maintain our relevance and usefulness to clients over time? In the interest of improving evaluation practice, presenters will share experience gained through maintaining several long-term evaluator/client relationships. Roundtable discussion topics will include tailoring reports to meet evolving client needs, ensuring evaluation quality while relinquishing some control over evaluation processes, maintaining objectivity and independence while working as a team with clients, and structuring evaluation contracts to accommodate a growing client role in evaluation.
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| Roundtable Rotation II:
The Challenges of Being an Owner/President/Entrepreneur of an Evaluation Firm: Juggling the Business in a Research Environment and the Research in a Business Environment |
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Roundtable Presentation 115 to be held in the Quartz Room Section B on Wednesday, Nov 5, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
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|
Sponsored by the Independent Consulting TIG
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| Presenter(s):
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| Irene Goodman,
Goodman Research Group Inc,
goodman@grginc.com
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| Abstract:
This session will focus on the joys and challenges of being an owner/entrepreneur of an evaluation research firm. Topics discussed will be strategies for fostering high-quality evaluations while operating in a business environment, leading a research staff that may be used to a more traditional academic model, writing proposals and negotiating with evaluation clients in an increasingly difficult economic climate, and issues with recruiting and retaining appropriately skilled research managers and junior staff. The Roundtable participants will be encouraged to share their perspectives on their unique role, perhaps serving as a springboard for ongoing discussions during the year. Independent consultants who are moving in the direction of employing staff will also be welcome. The presenter was a university faculty member, researcher on staff at a few R&Ds, and then a sole proprietor before starting an evaluation research company that is now in its 19th year with 16 employees.
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