This presentation, given by Lori Wingate for the Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University, takes a look at the 'why, what and how' of making recommendations in an evaluation. The presentation outlines the reasons for giving recommendations and provides a range of tips and advice for making them more effective.
Contents
- Continuum of Evaluative Information
- WHY (or WHY NOT) should evaluators make recommendations?
- WHAT types of recommendations should evaluators make?
- HOW should evaluators make recommendations?
- Base recommendations on evaluation findings and conclusions and other credible sources.
- Organize recommendations, such as by type, focus, timing, audience, and/or priority.
- At the design stage, determine the nature of recommendations needed or expected.
- Generate possible recommendations throughout the evaluation, not just at the end.
- Engage key stakeholders in developing or reviewing recommendations prior to finalization
- Focus recommendations on actions within control of intenders users.
- Provide multiple options for achieving desired results
- Clearly distinguish between findings and recommendations
- Write recommendations using clear and specific language.
- Specify the justification/ information sources for each recommendation.
- Explain the potential costs, benefits, and challenges associated with implementing recommendation
- Exercise interpersonal and political sensitivity in the focus and wording of recommendations
- Meet with stakeholders to review and discuss recommendations in their final form.
- Provide tools to facilitate decision making and action planning around recommendations
Source
Lori Wingate (2014), Recommendations in Evaluation, Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University. Retrieved from: https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u350/2014/Wingate-Eval...(website link updated Dec 2020)
Comments
Would it be possible to find the new link to this resource?
Thanks for letting us know, Alex.
The links have been updated. You can find more presentations from the Western Michigan University Evaluation Cafe here.
Best wishes,
Emma
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