Till Time (and Poor Planning) Do Us Part

Programs as Dynamic Systems—Incorporating Planning of Sustainability into Theories of Change

Authors

  • Sanjeev Sridharan Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • April Nakaima Evaluation Centre for Complex Health Interventions

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.53055

Keywords:

dynamic change, evaluative thinking, planning, sustainability, theory of change

Abstract

This article describes the need for, and challenge of, representing the sustainability of a program as a dynamic process. Part of what enhances the complexity of programs is the challenge of dynamic complexity—the complexity of the program evolves over time through the interaction of actors and their environment. The problem is not just one of representation but also of planning—specifically planning for sustainability. We argue that an essential part of any accountability regime is planning for sustainability. Using the concept of programs as dynamic process, we argue that planning for sustainability needs to be a critical aspect of the impact chains of all theories of change. Both the representation and testing aspects of such a formulation are discussed.

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Published

2019-01-21

How to Cite

Sridharan, S., & Nakaima, A. (2019). Till Time (and Poor Planning) Do Us Part: Programs as Dynamic Systems—Incorporating Planning of Sustainability into Theories of Change. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 33(3), 375–394. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.53055

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 3 (2019): Special Issue

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2019 Sanjeev Sridharan, April Nakaima

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