What outcomes does a program evaluation assess to inform decisions?

What outcomes does a program evaluation assess to inform decisions?

• A. Budgetary compliance only.
• B. Effectiveness, efficiency, and impact.
• C. IT system performance.
• D. Employee morale.

Answer: (B)

Program evaluation looks at how well a program achieves its goals, how efficiently it uses resources, and the changes it produces. The best choice captures these three aspects: effectiveness (did the program achieve its intended results?), efficiency (were resources used wisely to reach those results?), and impact (what broader or longer-term changes occurred because of the program?). Focusing only on budgetary compliance is too narrow, as it misses whether the program actually delivered the intended benefits. IT system performance is about technical functioning, not overall program outcomes. Employee morale might influence results but isn’t the central set of outcomes evaluators examine to inform decisions about a program’s success and value.

Program evaluation looks at how well a program achieves its goals, how efficiently it uses resources, and the changes it produces. The best choice captures these three aspects: effectiveness (did the program achieve its intended results?), efficiency (were resources used wisely to reach those results?), and impact (what broader or longer-term changes occurred because of the program?).

Focusing only on budgetary compliance is too narrow, as it misses whether the program actually delivered the intended benefits. IT system performance is about technical functioning, not overall program outcomes. Employee morale might influence results but isn’t the central set of outcomes evaluators examine to inform decisions about a program’s success and value.