The variety of evaluation activities reflects the particular organizational and management concepts of the Department's components, their individual needs for information to be gained from evaluation, and the necessity to integrate their evaluation activities with their research, planning, and programmatic efforts. (Author/RL)

A contingency model of evaluation competencies is presented concerning the types and levels of professional competency an evaluator should have. Four broad categories of competency (policy analysis, administrative, interpersonal/personal, and technical) are identified along with three different levels of criteria of acceptable performance.…

Professional behavior during the General Accounting Office's (GAO's) present era of oversight can best be understood by reviewing the audit types that populate village life in the GAO and the repertoire the office uses in conducting program evaluation audits. (Author/LMO)

A performance contingent reward system was developed for federal employees in the purchase division of a naval shipyard. Rewards were financial incentives provided to individual civil service employees who performed above standard. A description of the system and an evaluation of its effectiveness in increasing productivity and saving costs are…

A "Multidimensional Needs Assessment Framework" developed by the authors and used in public school districts for planning special service programs is described. An overview, rationale/description are included. The steps applied in utilization of the framework are delineated, and potential implementation problems are considered.…

An evaluation methodology based on problem-solving techniques which can be effective and efficient in defining and analyzing problems which impair program performance is described. The model provides a potentially unique cost/benefit methodology for estimating the potential worth of improving program performance. (Author/RL)

A systematic approach for managers to make data-based decisions using management information systems in human services delivery settings is described. It involves a behavioral definition of management information use, the identification of behavior disruptions in information use, and an intervention designed to reduce disruptions and promote use.…

To maximize freedom from personal and political conflicts of interest, decentralized mechanisms of federal program evaluations are needed. Block grants mean that state legislatures and governors will become more responsible for oversight of funds. Three proposals are presented for helping the states deal with these increased evaluation…

Three types of macro-level variables for program analysis--cultural, economic and demographic--provide a context for evaluation and offer alternative explanations for program success or failure. The problems of causality and availability of data, as well as the usefulness of macro variables in meta evaluation are discussed. (Author/CM)