Evaluation plan
An evaluation plan is a detailed and practical document that operationalizes the evaluation framework. The evaluation plan is a road map for conducting an evaluation. It identifies the questions the evaluation will answer, the data to be collected, and the time and resources required. An evaluation framework answers the questions:
What will be done?
How will it be done?
Who will do it?
When will it be done?
Why is the evaluation being conducted?
Evaluation frameworks can vary, but most include the following elements:
Expected results: The outcomes expected from the program (e.g., improved patient satisfaction)
Indicators: A measurement of how well the results were achieved (e.g., number of patients who are “satisfied” or “very satisfied”)
Baseline data: The existing conditions before the program started (e.g., 50% of patients are satisfied)
Targets: The definition of success for each indicator (e.g., 75% of patients are satisfied)
Data sources: Where the information needed will come from (e.g., patients)
Data collection methods: How information will be collected (e.g., a survey)
Frequency: How often each indicator will be measured (e.g., once a month)
Responsibility: Who is responsible for collecting the information (e.g., a consultant) and Timelines.
While the evaluation framework provides the conceptual foundation and sets the direction for the evaluation, the evaluation plan translates that framework into concrete steps and actions. the evaluation plan is developed based on the evaluation framework, and the two documents are closely interconnected.
See also evaluation plan template and components of an evaluation plan