| Session Title: Isn't Just Talk Talk Talk: How Systems Approaches Can Work in the Real World of Boundaries and Power |
| Think Tank Session 864 to be held in Avila B on Saturday, Nov 5, 9:50 AM to 11:20 AM |
| Sponsored by the Systems in Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Mary McEathron, University of Minnesota, mceat001@umn.edu |
| Erin Watson, Michigan State University, droegeer@msu.edu |
| Discussant(s): |
| Martin Reynolds, The Open University, m.d.reynolds@open.acgçï.uk |
| Vidhya Shanker, University of Minnesota, shan0133@umn.edu |
| Abstract: Evaluators have long known, discussed and written about power imbalances evident in decisions made about how programs are funded, implemented, and evaluated. While a number of systems-thinking evaluation approaches identify multiple stakeholder perspectives and define program boundaries, two approaches - Soft Systems Methodology and Critical Systems Heuristic- can be used to address issues of power imbalances in human systems. In this interactive session, presenters share practice-based vignettes of these approaches to introduce questions of power relations and boundary judgments. Participants engage in small group discussions to explore: (1) What issues of power and boundaries are addressed using these approaches? (2) Who and/or what needs to be present to move awareness into skillful action? (3) How can these approaches address historical imbalances of power due to race, class, gender, and culture? When full group reconvenes, discussants Martin Reynolds and Vidhya Shanker reflect on group responses and with participants create recommendations for practice |