Overview Program Evaluation
Overview of Program Evaluation
HCS/549
April 15, 2013
Overview of Program Evaluation
Program evaluation is a useful resource to evaluate programs that are currently an organization or an industry is making good use of. Evaluating programs not only bring out the strengths and weaknesses but also identifies the picture of the plans implemented. The purpose of this paper is to examine the purpose for program evaluation and why it can be useful to an organization. This paper will speak of the five most common types of program evaluation models and will select one program evaluation model to describe from week one’s reading.
Purpose for program evaluation
“There is only one overall purpose for program evaluation activities: contributing to the provision of quality services to people in need. Program evaluation contributes to quality services by providing feedback from program activities and outcomes to those who can make changes in programs” (Posavac & Carey, 2007, p.14). If there is no feedback, then the programs will be very hard to carry out and be effective. The processes of evaluation require feedback systems; similarly, feedback on behavior in organizations is also crucial for the success of an organization. Delayed feedback, not clearly associated with the examination of behavior, is not very informative.
In the readings, the writers have argued that environmental problems are hard to solve because of the long delay between environmentally destructive activities and feedback indicating a weakening of natural systems. “Assessing needs, measuring the implementation of programs to meet those needs, evaluating the achievement of carefully formed goals and objectives, and comparing the level of outcome with the costs involved relative to similar programs serve to provide information from which to develop program improvements” (Posavac & Carey, 2007, p.14). This is useful for organizations because it gives them an idea of their programs and what
HCS/549
April 15, 2013
Overview of Program Evaluation
Program evaluation is a useful resource to evaluate programs that are currently an organization or an industry is making good use of. Evaluating programs not only bring out the strengths and weaknesses but also identifies the picture of the plans implemented. The purpose of this paper is to examine the purpose for program evaluation and why it can be useful to an organization. This paper will speak of the five most common types of program evaluation models and will select one program evaluation model to describe from week one’s reading.
Purpose for program evaluation
“There is only one overall purpose for program evaluation activities: contributing to the provision of quality services to people in need. Program evaluation contributes to quality services by providing feedback from program activities and outcomes to those who can make changes in programs” (Posavac & Carey, 2007, p.14). If there is no feedback, then the programs will be very hard to carry out and be effective. The processes of evaluation require feedback systems; similarly, feedback on behavior in organizations is also crucial for the success of an organization. Delayed feedback, not clearly associated with the examination of behavior, is not very informative.
In the readings, the writers have argued that environmental problems are hard to solve because of the long delay between environmentally destructive activities and feedback indicating a weakening of natural systems. “Assessing needs, measuring the implementation of programs to meet those needs, evaluating the achievement of carefully formed goals and objectives, and comparing the level of outcome with the costs involved relative to similar programs serve to provide information from which to develop program improvements” (Posavac & Carey, 2007, p.14). This is useful for organizations because it gives them an idea of their programs and what