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Impact of Context on the Choice of Evaluation Strategies in the Ongoing Evaluation Process of the Pradler Program for Social Change
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| Presenter(s):
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| Chen Lifshitz, Branco Weiss Institute, chenl@brancoweiss.org.il
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| Pamela Deutsch, The Pradler Program, pamdeu@gmail.com
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| Abstract:
The Pradler Program, established by the Pratt Foundation, assists in building the capacity of Israeli NGOs in the field of resource development. Over the 5 years of its existence, the Program initiated evaluation processes, internal and external, at 3 critical junctures of its development.
At each juncture, the type of evaluation utilized took into account the internal and external contexts in which the Program operates. This included the social and political context, i.e. social change organizations in Israel, and the ongoing development of the Program taking into account the needs of shareholders, staff, and clients. At each stage, the evaluation examined different issues, using differing tools and sources of information.
Adapting an appropriate evaluation strategy at each juncture ensured the relevance of the findings at two levels; the Program's impact on social change in Israel and strengthening the use of the findings in enhancing the effectiveness of the Program.
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Lawyer Discipline and Deterrence: Are American Bar Association (ABA) Sanctions Effective?
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| Presenter(s):
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| Charles Gray, University of Saint Thomas, cmgray@stthomas.edu
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| Abstract:
Informational asymmetries in the market in legal services can give rise to a moral hazard problem that potentially threatens market viability. The American Bar Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, has implemented a discipline system intended to deter unethical behavior and maintain consumer faith in the legal services market. This paper applies the economic model of crime and punishment to the issue of lawyer discipline in an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of the ABA's system. The fundamental questions are:
-Is lawyer discipline justified by a market failure?
-Does the probability of sanctions imposed under the existing state-by-state systems of lawyer discipline deter unethical, illegal, and other inappropriate behaviors by lawyers?
-Does the severity of sanctions likewise have a deterrent effect?
The empirical results are consistent with the theoretical expectation that punishment deters and support the efficacy of the ABA's program.
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Community Information: Defining Context for the Evaluation, Non-Profit and Public Sector Communities
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| Presenter(s):
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| Charles Naumer, University of Washington, naumer@u.washington.edu
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| Lisa Montaqu, Piton Foundation, lmontagu@piton.org
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| Abstract:
The role of community information resources to support the definition of context is discussed in terms of its role in supporting the work of evaluators, nonprofits, public sector agencies and foundations. The results of research conducted in Denver, Colorado will be discussed in terms of the role of community information in defining context, the role this information plays in shaping evaluation questions, how evaluation results are utilized and framed in terms of the defined context, and which stakeholders might be incorporated into evaluation processes as a result of a better understanding of context. Additionally, future directions and promise for better developed community information resources to inform the work of those in the social sector will be discussed.
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