The One-Two Punch: Rapid Evaluation and Performance Management

This year the Alliance will offer two pre-conference workshops that provide education and training to support attendees as they lead for impact. Attendees will have the opportunity to try out methods, discuss in-depth challenges they face in bringing these practices to life in the organization, and how they, as senior leaders, can take action to make it happen. Techniques discussed in these workshops are applicable to both large and small organizations knowing that both groups face unique challenges in the evaluation arena.

The cost for each individual workshop is $75; however, attendees will maximize the learning and networking opportunities by attending both the morning and afternoon sessions. Discounted registration pricing for both sessions is $100.

Workshop 1: Leading for Effective Evaluation
Saturday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m.-noon

Evaluation is typically in the hands of a small number of specialized staff or becomes the daunting task of program managers and their staff—both structures result in views of evaluation as products rather than critical decision making tools for strategy.

In this workshop, attendees will understand and redefine different types of evaluation and the purposes of each and the tools and resources needed to support effective evaluation.

The first half of the workshop arms the senior leader with the know-how to play an active role in evaluation practices and will advance their capacity to demonstrate impact and relevance.

The second portion of the morning session will emphasize the implementation and use of Rapid Evaluation (RE) techniques. RE tools are designed to be quick and resource limited, but provide accurate, detailed, and insightful information to make program-related decisions with confidence.

Workshop 2: Managing for Performance Management
Saturday, Feb. 16 from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Performance management, like evaluation, is a critical tool for communicating short-term outcomes and effectiveness. Most organizations are not elevating performance management to its full potential.

In this workshop, attendees will focus on defining performance management within an evaluation continuum to assist leaders in thinking about the use of it within their organization. Attendees will work with one another to identify cost-effective tools and resources that fit their organization’s style and structure.

Attendees will also learn about some of the Alliance's research from the last two years implementing and refining a stronger performance management process.

A successful outcome of these sessions will have organization leaders viewing performance management as a decision making tool infused in the day-to-day work of all levels of their organization.

Presenters: Laura Pinsoneault, director of evaluation and research services, Alliance for Children and Families

Presenter Materials

Leading for Effective Evaluation presentation
Managing for Performance Management presentation
Rapid Evaluation handout
Getting Started with Data-Driven Decision Making: A Workbook