The unique characteristics of the organizational context are reviewed, and it is shown how internal evaluation fits within them. The major factors that define the organizational context are delineated, including the emergence of the evaluation resource management function. (PN)

The organization and operations of an evaluation unit in a local governmental agency are presented. How local evaluation units manage (1) external relations (to obtain funding, to gain access to data sources, and encourage evaluation use) and (2) internal operations (including staffing, communication, data collection, and analysis) are described.…