Evaluability assessment - making public programs work better

EA IS A DESCRIPTIVE AND ANALYTIC PROCESS INTENDED TO PRODUCE A REASONED BASIS FOR PROCEEDING WITH AN EVALUATION OF USE TO BOTH MANAGEMENT AND POLICYMAKERS. EA CONSISTS OF FOUR STEPS: DESCRIBE THE PROGRAM, VALIDATE AND ANALYZE THE PROGRAM CAN BE EVALUATED, CONSTRUCT ALTERNATIVES WHENEVER NECESSARY, AND IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT DECISIONS. THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION CONSISTS OF TWO ELEMENTS: REAL PROGRAMS AND VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF REAL PROGRAMS. THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF DESCRIBING THE PROGRAM IS EXPLAINED BY THE USE OF MODELS AND METHODS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, POLICYMAKERS, AND PROGRAM OPERATORS. IDENTIFICATION OF COMPONENTS NECESSARY TO THE EVALUATOR'S DESCRIPTION ALSO IS INVOLVED. ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION INCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF SEVERAL QUESTIONS, SUCH AS THE RELIABILITY OF MANAGEMENT'S EVIDENCE, THE PLAUSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTATIONS, AND OTHER FACTORS. CONSTRUCTION OF ALTERNATIVES INCLUDES ALTERNATIVE EXPECTATIONS, ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, AND ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION APPROACHES. THE FINAL STEP, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT FINDINGS, INVOLVES THE PROCESSES OF MANAGEMENT DECISIONMAKING AND FOLLOWTHROUG. TABULAR DATA, REFERENCES, AND A LIST OF SUPPLEMENATARY READINGS ARE PROVIDED.