Program Evaluation without a Client

The Case of the Disappearing Intended Users

Authors

  • Donna M. Mertens Gallaudet University, Washington, DC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.0025.007

Abstract

Evaluators know they are supposed to identify and engage with stakeholders. What happens when the client has a very narrow concept of the meaning of evaluation? What happens when the primary stakeholders, including the client, disappear just as the evaluation gets started? First, it is important to acknowledge the challenge, then develop a strategy to negotiate the scope of the evaluation and to broaden the community of stakeholders. Divergent pathways are explored to facilitate use of the evaluation findings in such settings.

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Published

2011-01-21

How to Cite

Mertens, D. M. (2011). Program Evaluation without a Client: The Case of the Disappearing Intended Users. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 25(3), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.0025.007