The Program Evaluation KnowledgeBase : Element 1 : Activity 3 : Task 1: Describe the Program Being Evaluated
Guideline: As noted by the Center for Disease Control's Evaluation Working Group, "program descriptions convey the mission and objectives of the program being evaluated. Descriptions should be sufficiently detailed to ensure understanding of program goals and strategies. The description should discuss the program's capacity to effect change, its stage of development, and how it fits into the larger organization and community. Program descriptions set the frame of reference for all subsequent decisions in an evaluation. The description enables comparisons with similar programs and facilitates attempts to connect program components to their effects. Moreover, stakeholders might have differing ideas regarding program goals and purposes. Evaluations done without agreement on the program definition are likely to be of limited use."
This program evaluation guidance from the Centers for Disease Control suggests a framework for describing the program being evaluated. A properly defined program sets the tone for an effective evaluation.
When creating an evaluation plan it is important to closely look at how it will work and how its pieces fit together. Links to resources explaining the logic model concept are offered to assist the project team apply the concept with their project planning.
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