C4D: Establish Decision making processes

What is it?

Many decisions will need to be made in the course of planning and implementing research monitoring and evaluation. To think about and implement effective decisions it is useful consider the following: a) to be explicit about and agree on what structures and processes will be used to make decisions, b) which specific participants should be/could be involved in the various decision making processes, c) to distinguish between the decision-making group (which might be labelled a steering group or a task force) and an advisory group (which can provide technical or cultural advice, but cannot make decisions), d) to be clear about how decisions will be made, which could be on the basis of consensus (which aims to find decisions which everyone can accept), hierarchical (on the basis of formal positions of authority) or majority, e) establish the extent to which each group will be involved or informed of each decision.

General information

The Rainbow Framework page "Establish decision making processes" outlines generalist methods in relation to types of decision making structures, processes for exploring issues, and processes for making decisions.

Step 1 of the BetterEvaluation Manager's Guide to Evaluation guides the development of the following products:

• Evaluation management plan
• Decision-making matrix
• List of responsibilities for the evaluation manager
• List of responsibilities for the evaluator
• Information about Joint Evaluations towards an Evaluation Partnership Agreement

These pages are recommended background reading before considering methods to apply to C4D. 

Applying the C4D principles

Participatory

The C4D Evaluation Framework would encourage participatory decision making processes where possible. This means that stakeholders are actively engaged in decision making about the framing and design of R,M&E. This task is an opportunity to formalise the involvement of stakeholders in decision making.

Critical

The C4D Evaluation Framework would encourage participatory decision making processes where possible. This means that stakeholders are actively engaged in decision making about the framing and design of R,M&E. This task is an opportunity to formalise the involvement of stakeholders in decision making.

Learning-based

Decision-making processes and structures (such as an ongoing technical working group) should emphasise leadership and responsibilities for knowledge management, exchange and utilisation to ensure continuous learning, mutual understanding and creative ideas and thinking.

Complex

Decision-making about how the evaluation will be done (including framing its purpose and questions, choosing an evaluation team, approving an evaluation plan and an evaluation report) may need to include different stakeholders. If the key stakeholders change, the decision making structures and processes might need to be flexible. Sometimes we may need to revisit decisions that have already been made.