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Towards Systemic Evaluation

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  • Martin Reynolds
  • Emily Gates
  • Richard Hummelbrunner
  • Mita Marra
  • Bob Williams

Abstract

Problems of conventional evaluation models can be understood as an impoverished ‘conversation’ between realities (of non‐linearity, indeterminate attributes, and ever‐changing context), and models of evaluating such realities. Meanwhile, ideas of systems thinking and complexity science—grouped here under the acronym STCS—struggle to gain currency in the big ‘E’ world of institutionalized evaluation. Four evaluation practitioners familiar with evaluation tools associated with STCS offer perspectives on issues regarding mainstream uptake of STCS in the big ‘E’ world. The perspectives collectively suggest three features of practicing systemic evaluation: (i) developing value in conversing between bounded values (evaluations) and unbounded reality (evaluand), with humility; (ii) developing response‐ability with evaluand stakeholders based on reflexivity, with empathy; and (iii) developing adaptive rather than mere contingent use(fulness) of STCS ‘tools’ as part of evaluation praxis, with inevitable fallibility and an orientation towards bricolage (adaptive use). The features hint towards systemic evaluation as core to a reconfigured notion of developmental evaluation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Reynolds & Emily Gates & Richard Hummelbrunner & Mita Marra & Bob Williams, 2016. "Towards Systemic Evaluation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 662-673, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:33:y:2016:i:5:p:662-673
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.2423
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Merry-Jo D. Levers, 2013. "Philosophical Paradigms, Grounded Theory, and Perspectives on Emergence," SAGE Open, , vol. 3(4), pages 21582440135, December.
    3. Lanham, Holly Jordan & Leykum, Luci K. & Taylor, Barbara S. & McCannon, C. Joseph & Lindberg, Curt & Lester, Richard T., 2013. "How complexity science can inform scale-up and spread in health care: Understanding the role of self-organization in variation across local contexts," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 194-202.
    4. Martin Reynolds, 2015. "(Breaking) The Iron Triangle of Evaluation," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(1), pages 71-86, January.
    5. Bob Williams, 2015. "Prosaic or Profound? The Adoption of Systems Ideas by Impact Evaluation," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(1), pages 7-16, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Luis Arturo Pinzon‐Salcedo & María Alejandra Torres‐Cuello, 2022. "Systems thinking concepts within a collaborative programme evaluation methodology: The Hermes Programme evaluation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(4), pages 708-722, July.
    2. Foote, J. & Midgley, G. & Ahuriri-Driscoll, A. & Hepi, M. & Earl-Goulet, J., 2021. "Systemic evaluation of community environmental management programmes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 288(1), pages 207-224.
    3. Marra, Mita, 2022. "Productive interactions in digital training partnerships: Lessons learned for regional development and university societal impact assessment," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Gerald Midgley & Erik Lindhult, 2021. "A systems perspective on systemic innovation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 635-670, October.
    5. Shiell, Alan & Hawe, Penelope & Kavanagh, Shane, 2020. "Evidence suggests a need to rethink social capital and social capital interventions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    6. Watson Manduna & Roelien Goede & Lynette Drevin, 2022. "Incorporating various perspectives in using instant messages in teaching programming: A critical system thinking perspective," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(5), pages 947-961, September.

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