Do evaluation recommendations and the ensuing management response actions make a difference?

In a recent article in the Canadian Government Executive (Vol. 23, Issue 1, January 2017), Wayne MacDonald examines the influence of evaluations in the federal context. MacDonald argues that while evaluations aspire to enable change, often the evaluation voice is muted because evaluation findings and recommendations have mixed messages or are vague. There is also limited reporting on evaluation-associated outcomes, decision-making and learning. MacDonald urges evaluation practitioners to play a role in helping program managers articulate quality actions in response to evaluation recommendations and that the Policy on Results ‘turn up the volume on evaluation use’. Wayne MacDonald is President of Infinity Research and VP of the New Brunswick Chapter of CES.

The Canadian Government Executive is available online in English only.