Evaluating Social Innovation

In this paper, the authors explore ways that common evaluation approaches and practices constrain innovation and offer lessons about an emerging evaluation approach—developmental evaluation—which supports the adaptation that is so crucial to innovation. For what kinds of grantmaking strategies should funders consider using developmental evaluation? What organizational conditions are necessary for it to work? How can grantmakers grapple with the challenging questions that developmental evaluation raises about innovation, accountability, rigor, and adaptation? Drawing on the reflections and insights of foundation staff and evaluators who have experimented with developmental evaluation, they call on philanthropy to re-envision the role, purpose, and processes of evaluation so that social innovations have a better chance of success.

 

Bibliographic Details
Author	Hallie Preskill and Tanya Beer
Publisher	Center for Evaluation Innovation
Publication Date	August 1, 2012
Publication City	Washington DC
Publication Work
Resource Type	Research & Reports
Resource Focus	Legislative Judicial/Litigation Administrative/Regulatory Initiatives/Referenda Nonpartisan election-related Evaluation/Outcomes Measurement Advocacy/Public Policy Program Evaluation Capacity Building Advocacy Evaluation Organizational Assessment and Development Research and Publications Technology and Information Management Planning Analysis and Reflection
Audience	Evaluators
Region	International or N/A
Keywords	social innovation innovation evaluation innovation developmental evaluation
Submitted to Point K	August 8, 2012 - 3:08pm