Evaluation and Replanning

The specific measurable objectives of the project were spelled out in the goal setting and action planning stages of the intervention. The action planning time line gave dates for the monitoring reviews and the more complete program review. One year after the start of the action taking phase would be the maximum for this complete review activity and my experience suggests that six to nine months is the more appropriate time frame.

In addition to assessing the measurable objects and other program achievement indicators, it may be beneficial to redo some of the early data collection procedures for comparison and to aid replanning. These procedures would most likely include (if they had been done previously) the interest census, the SWOT analysis, and the stakeholders analysis. The culture analysis might also be included if done before but its more nebulous data makes it more difficult to use in replanning. Former data collection methods—now being used for evaluation purposes by comparing past and present results—are more likely to appear to stakeholders as confirm-able and credible.

The rule of thumb for the amount of time and energy to be devoted to this phase is one-third to one half that given to the original data collection, goal setting and planning activities. This may seem excessive yet there is a vital new learning here that is essential to the success of an ICC project. It is: How we can use our own experiences to plan for the future success and effectiveness of our community, group or organization.

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