| Session Title: Fitting the Key to the Lock: Matching Systems Methods To Evaluation Questions |
| Skill-Building Workshop 583 to be held in Lone Star B on Friday, Nov 12, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM |
| Sponsored by the Systems in Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Bob Williams, Independent Consultnat, bobwill@actrix.co.nz |
| Abstract: A quality evaluation not only has to use a particular method, technique or approach well, it has to choose it appropriately. Despite increasing interest in systems approaches, and examples of the use of specific methods, there has not been guidance on which systems method would be suitable in which evaluation situation. Consequently for many evaluators the leap between thinking systemically and using the most appropriate systems methods in their evaluation is a bit of a gamble. Out of the many hundreds available which ones can be useful in what circumstances; which systems keys fit which evaluation locks? One solution lies in evaluation questions - some systems methods address particular evaluation questions very well. Drawing on the just published book - Systems Concepts in Action - A Practitioner's Toolkit this session will demonstrate how evaluators can match specific systems methods to their evaluation questions. |