| Abstract:
Physical scientists distinguish static, dynamic, and dynamical types of change, which occur within different contexts. A static context is stable, predictable, and known; change efforts can be planned and controlled, as can evaluation designs. A dynamic context, in contrast, is one that is changing in an evolutionary and fairly manageable direction, constituting a relatively smooth trajectory. The third distinction, dynamical contexts and changes, are characterized as volatile, unpredictable, nonlinear, and complex; change emerges as dynamically interdependent factors and variables interact. The global financial crisis constitutes a dynamical context for change interventions of all kinds in the last year - and therefore, a dynamical context for evaluations of any such interventions. This session will explore the implications for evaluation of dynamical contexts with specific examples of evaluation cases, decisions, issues, and methods. One methods implication is the need for emergent designs and measures that support quick feedback in the face of turbulence.
|