Embracing Complexity in Social Enterprise Evaluation

This lecture, given by Brenda Zimmerman, Associate Professor of Policy at York University’s Schulich School of Business, outlines a number of approaches for addressing complexity in evaluations. She argues that by applying cognitive diversity when trying to solve causative complexity problems social innovation is possible. Evaluation systems must reflect the complex systems they evaluate of they are to remain relevant.

Abstract

"Embracing complexity is essential in social enterprise evaluation. In this audio lecture, Brenda Zimmerman, Associate Professor of Policy at York University’s Schulich School of Business, suggests approaches for addressing complexity in evaluation systems. In the closing keynote at the 2013 Next Generation Evaluation Conference, Zimmerman explores ways to embrace complexity in social sector evaluation practice. She describes how social innovation can be fostered by applying cognitive diversity to solve structural and causative complexity problems. To remain relevant, evaluation systems must reflect the complex systems they evaluate. Zimmerman discusses sophisticated nuanced comparisons, and the role of coherence versus consistency in social enterprise evaluation. She illustrates how being strategic in complex systems is significant to social enterprise.: (Zimmerman, 2014)