Evaluating Cross-Agency Programs: A Framework for Managing the Process

This is the report of a project concerned with developing a framework for managing evaluations of cross-agency programs which aims to increase the likelihood of the evaluation findings being used.

Performance measurement and evaluation are key elements of the NSW Government’s commitment to managing results in the NSW public sector.

The NSW Government also recognises that to address many issues effectively, a cross- agency approach is required.

Cross-agency programs pose a number of challenges, one of which is how to manage their evaluation.

A project undertaken as part of the Executive Development Program by Julie Hornibrook, Northern Rivers Area Health Service, and Karen Paterson, Department of Local Government, aimed to:

• Review selected literature on factors affecting program evaluation
• Review selected NSW cross-agency programs which have been evaluated to identify the process used to manage the evaluation
• Develop a framework for managing the evaluation of cross-agency programs

The report of the project, published in April 2003, contains a detailed 20-point Framework for Managing Cross-agency Program Evaluations, under the headings:

• Planning the evaluation
• Selecting and briefing the evaluator
• Managing the conduct of the evaluation
• Reporting and disseminating findings
• Implementing and evaluating the evaluation

Follow this link to download free 'Acrobat Reader from Adobe'. You will need it to open PDF files.

For further information

Contact	:	Karen Paterson
Address	:	Department of Local Government, Locked Bag 3015 Nowra NSW 2541
Phone	:	02 4428 4180
Email	:	karen.paterson@dlg.nsw.gov.au