Program Evaluation

(I originally published this article in Linkedin):
Program Evaluation is ubiquitous, and a lot of people conduct program evaluations without having training in program evaluation nor having a grasp of the fundamentals. This is a pity because these evaluators assess important programs and relay findings which do not even touch upon the basic elements of program evaluation (program logic and program theory)- thus squandering time and resources. While there are a bewildering array of evaluation methodologies/approaches, fortunately, the fundamentals underpinning program evaluation remain the same across these approaches.
 I have been a learner regarding program evaluation (and will continue to be). In this learning journey, I have come across two sources which have benefited me immensely.
 The first source is written to be light in its language but not in the message it is trying to convey i.e. to ensure program evaluation is conducted effectively and efficiently:
http://managementhelp.org/evaluation/program-evaluation-guide.htm
The second one is a text available for free to download at the below link and covers program evaluation comprehensively (it is light on theory-driven evaluation approaches but will forgive the authors for it is otherwise comprehensive):
http://www.themedfomscu.org/media/Handbook_of_Practical_Program_Evaluation.pdf
 I would encourage those who are interested in program evaluation to start off with the first attachment and progress to the text, which is also quite easy to read.
Happy reading,
Sandeep