But say, you notice that you are only getting 20 miles per gallon. That's a performance measurement. You looked at whether your car was performing where it should be. So what do you do next? You would take it to a mechanic.
The mechanic's analysis and recommendations would be the program evaluation because the mechanic would diagnose why the car is not performing as well as it should.
You need performance measures to know whether your program or car is performing where it should be, and you do a program evaluation or go to the mechanic to find out the reason why it is not meeting those expectations.
Skip to main content. Contact Us. Popular Tools. What is program evaluation? What types of program evaluations are there? EPA has used program evaluation to: Support new and innovative approaches and emerging practices Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiness Continuously improve existing programs Subsequently, improve human health and the environment What Types of Program Evaluations are there?
Program Evaluation Program evaluations can assess the performance of a program at all stages of a program's development. Design Evaluation A design evaluation is conducted early in the planning stages or implementation of a program. Process Evaluation A process evaluation assesses whether a program or process is implemented as designed or operating as intended and identifies opportunities for improvement.
Outcome Evaluations Outcome evaluations examine the results of a program intended or unintended to determine the reasons why there are differences between the outcomes and the program's stated goals and objectives e. Impact Evaluation An impact evaluation is a subset of an outcome evaluation.
Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation Cost-effectiveness evaluations identify program benefits, outputs or outcomes and compare them with the internal and external costs of the program.
All of this is referred to variously as, "outcomes measurement," or "performance management," or simply, "evaluation. If you are just becomining familiar with this topic we recommend a powerful and easy-to-read book, Leap of Reason, that explains how nonprofits and grantmakers and governments have a responsibility to the individuals and communities we all serve to be as effective as possible.
The authors go on to stress that in an environment of increasingly limited resources, those nonprofits that can demonstrate that they are truly making an impact will be the ones most likely to attract resources and talent, and therefore be most sustainable. As Leap of Reason points out — measuring outcomes is not just about attracting resources to your nonprofit; it's about the mission.
Your nonprofit will only know that it is indeed helping individuals, solving problems in communities, and protecting the environment etc. Here are some resources to help your organization along an intentional path that we hope will lead to the most effective delivery of your nonprofit's programs and services, and advancement of its mission.
Stay up-to-date with the latest nonprofit resources and trends by subscribing to our free e-newsletters. The type and application of program evaluation methods depend on the mission and goals of the program. Both mechanisms support resource allocation and policy decisions aimed at improving service delivery and program effectiveness. While performance measures can tell you only what is occurring in your program, program evaluation provides you with an overall assessment of whether your program is working and can help identify adjustments that may improve your program results.
Performance measurement data can be used to detect problems early in the process so that you can correct them before it is too late. The data collected measure specific outputs and outcomes a program is designed to achieve. Outputs are the result of the activities inputs that go into a program, while outcomes are the final results of or changes resulting from an activity.
Moreover, the results of your program evaluation will justify continued funding from your funding sources.
Specific performance measures may include the following:. Although various types of program evaluations exist, the type of evaluation you conduct depends on the questions you want to answer. Process, outcome, and impact evaluations are three types of evaluations you may be required to conduct:. Each type of evaluation has specific benefits that will assist you in successfully meeting your program goals and objectives along a continuum.
Overall, evaluations help—. Publication Date: January Definitions Performance measurement and program evaluation share similarities but serve different purposes. Program evaluation and performance measurement complement each other in— Developing or improving measures of program performance.
Helping to understand the relationship between activities and results. Generating data on program results not regularly collected or available through other means.
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