A Perspective on Evaluation

J Lazar 2020

I have a point of view about evaluation. I think it’s important for us, as coaches and consultants. It’s also important to our clients and client organizations. The reasons have to do with what are our respective concerns. My perspective is based on my learning experiences with ontological SMEs Fernando Flores, Julio Olalla and Bob Dunham, and evaluation SMEs Jack and Patty Phillips, Judith Hale and Ingrid Guerra- Lopez. In addition, it’s based on simply being human, with our predilections for making assessments all the time. This article will take a closer look at evaluation from four perspectives: evaluation and what it is and does; stakeholders and their relationship to evaluation efforts; measurement and how it can support evaluation efforts; and contracting and its role in evaluation efforts.