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Evaluations generate rich, evidence‑based insights that contribute to good public administration. Irrespective of whether evaluation findings are positive, negative or neutral, evaluation reports are not intended to just “sit on the shelf” or be seen as a “tick a box” activity . They are designed to be used constructively to support continuous improvement.
Endorsed implementation plan
A senior executive endorsed implementation plan, will help implement evaluation findings and prioritise actions to improve programs and services, enhance design and delivery mechanisms, and ultimately improve outcomes.
Communication plan
A communication plan will also help to ensure findings are shared in the most appropriate way with stakeholders, participants, and a broader audience.
This allows your program or activity's end users to benefit from continuous improvement. It also ensures the evidence base can be used and expanded to help similar programs improve their outcomes.
Evaluation findings
Evaluation findings should be transparent by default unless there are appropriate reasons for not releasing information publicly.
This supports accountability, continuous improvement, and helps to embed a culture of evaluation across the Commonwealth.
Things to consider
How should my entity use the results of the evaluation?
- How will the findings/recommendations from the evaluation be implemented (this should be planned for and determined at the beginning of the evaluation)?
- Who should I engage to ensure successful implementation?
How does my evaluation support learning across the Commonwealth?
- How can I disseminate the findings from the evaluation?
- What other entities could be interested in how I went about the evaluation and what I found?
- Are there professional groups and networks I can tap into to increase learnings across the Commonwealth?
Does my evaluation help continuous improvement of other programs and activities in my entity?
- How does the evaluation support my entity to achieve its purpose?
- How do I ensure that the evaluation is used as evidence in our Annual Performance Statements?
- How do I get executive support for the evaluation and the implementation of the results?
Review evaluation objectives and implement improvements
Once you have delivered a well planned and executed evaluation, it is important to ensure the results are used and the learnings are disseminated.
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Prioritise the improvements |
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Develop an implementation plan signed off by the Executive in the entity |
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Have a communications plan |
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Monitor the implementation of evaluation recommendations |
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Share the learnings |
Prioritise the improvements
Often the evaluation will have a number of findings/recommendations. In order to maximise impact, it’s important to prioritise those recommendations that can be implemented immediately, and those that can wait.
Have a implementation plan
Develop an implementation plan that is signed off by the executive in the entity.
An implementation plan is a good way to carefully plan the changes needed in the program or activity within any resource constraints.
This plan would involve:
- prioritising activities most likely to lead to changes for the majority of stakeholders and/or end users
- identifying activities that are not leading to the desired outcomes so you can stop or change them
- identifying whether anyone is missing out that should have been a beneficiary of the program or activity. Are new services, programs or activities needed?
- reviewing the delivery method of the program or activity.
Have a communications plan
A communication plan outlines the strategies that will be used to communicate the results of the evaluation.
The plan needs to describe which results will be communicated, how they will be communicated, and to whom they will be communicated.
It is important to consider the different aspects and techniques for discussing the evaluation results with stakeholders and a wider audience to support continuous learning across the Commonwealth. Source: Communication plan (Better Evaluation)
Monitor the implementation of evaluation recommendations
Program managers are responsible for implementing the agreed recommendations of an evaluation of their program or activity.
Share the learnings
The benefits of properly planned and executed evaluations are considerable, for the government, the Commonwealth and, importantly, for Australians.
They generate rich, evidence‑based insights that help guide the allocation of public resources, improve the design and implementation of programs, and deliver better services.
Sharing the tips and tricks you have learned through your evaluation across the Commonwealth will help to build evaluation capability. It also allows the evidence base to be used and expanded to help similar programs and activities to improve their delivery and outcomes.