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What are the four tools of evaluation?

Evaluation tools Toolbox (overview of main tools) Problem diagram. Objectives diagram and the effect diagram. Decision diagram. Interview. Focus group. Survey. Expert panel. More items...

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Practices have evolved with the development of the tool. The analysis is now used to assist decision-makers in the resolution of issues which comprise several (and sometimes competing) points of view. The use of multi-criteria analysis, also called "multi-criteria decision-making", quickly spread in the second half of the 1970s and is now considered a scientific tool. This methodology was first developed in the economic sciences and industrial engineering fields. Its goal is to suggest a solution through the simplification of the issue, taking into account the preferences of the stakeholders. The tool requires the participation of stakeholders (decision-makers, technicians, beneficiaries, etc.) and yields operational advice and recommendations. In accordance with selected criteria, the analysis helps decision-makers to integrate into a prospective or retrospective framework different opinions about a project, in order to formulate a judgement. Multi-criteria analysis guides decision-making on the basis of common criteria. It is mainly designed to facilitate the understanding and resolution of decision-making issues. It is undertaken to make a comparative assessment between projects or heterogeneous measures. It can therefore be appropriate for evaluations. These approaches only involve a limited number of activities and require a significant involvement by decision-makers. Among these methodologies are the multiple linear programming, PREFCALC, UTA interactive, etc. The advantage of these methodologies is their ability to compare complex situations, which are not usually comparable because of the inclusion of very different criteria (objective and subjective). In accordance with an outranking index, the analysis is based on the comparison between activities which are ranked in pairs. The weighted average is the easiest methodology to carry out. For example, it can analyse the average grade of a student during an examination. Criteria correspond to the subjects, weights to the coefficients, and performances to the grades for each subject. In this type of multi-criteria analysis, compensations can be made and all the choices are comparable. It is used in straightforward and determined situations. In complete aggregation methodologies, a synthesised index aggregates all the criteria. Thus, criteria must be measurable and preferences mathematically rational. For example, the evaluation of the candidates' offers to the European Commission's calls for tenders uses the same methodology in its preliminary stages: the criterion for exclusion, then the criterion for selection, etc. Methodologies without compensation classify criteria and define binary thresholds for each criterion. They systematically test the activities under study with the selected criteria: if the activity ranks low against the first criterion selected, it is excluded; but if it ranks high, the activity is selected and goes through a test with another criterion, etc. Four types of methodologies can be developed for the implementation of a multi-criteria analysis. However, in ex ante evaluations, and dependent on the allocated budget, the undertaking of multi-criteria analysis can become as difficult as its use in urban development programmes which include planning assistance or decision assistance. Financial resources can vary greatly. In the context of a development assistance evaluation, multi-criteria analysis should be easy to undertake and cost-effective.

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Depending on the scale and technical aspect of the mission, other stakeholders can participate the analysis, for example: Apart from very simple cases, multi-criteria analysis requires the participation of several categories of stakeholders. The analysis usually takes time, except for very simple situations or when the goal is to collect opinions retrospectively. Case studies, questionnaires and focus groups provide basic information which can be useful to the negotiation group in charge of the selection and rating of criteria. On a very technical topic, an expert panel can assist the negotiation group to improve its judgement on the topic, to participate in discussions on weightings, etc. Prior to a multi-criteria analysis, a SWOT analysis can be undertaken to support the determination of criteria. A cost-effectiveness analysis can be undertaken for one of the criteria used in a multi-criteria analysis. In the evaluation field, these combinations are often limited because of the costs related to the application of these techniques. Although multi-criteria analysis is a self-standing tool, it can be combined with collection and analytical tools, depending on the specific needs of the situation. The following combinations are not exhaustive. Although multi-criteria analysis rationalises the approach of complex problems, and takes into account objective and subjective data, its opponents nevertheless consider it a subjective tool. The technical proficiency required for the effective use of the methodology is self-evident. In addition to the knowledge of computer applications, evaluators should have skills in mathematical concepts and data aggregation methodologies (see stage 8), in order to avoid poorly based conclusions or undertaking the analysis in the absence of a structured process. The time span allocated to the analysis (and its cost) is often the limiting factor in an evaluation context. Indeed, multi-criteria analyses are often based on slow and iterative processes, which may include protracted periods of negotiation. The lack of reliable data over a period of time sufficient to organise and validate the methodologies can be a handicap. The practical difficulties of choosing the activities or the variants to be studied, to determine comparison criteria, and to produce grading grids, should not be underestimated. The debates organised to settle these crucial points may sometimes be very long and complicated. The analysis can only be undertaken when stakeholders agree on a minimum range of points. For example, the multi-criteria analysis of the programme's operational objectives can only be undertaken if stakeholders agree on the overall objective and, if possible, on the programme's specific objective. For example, stakeholders must first agree on the necessity of improving the vehicular traffic before working together on the choices for a road project. The simplicity of the process eases the debate and fosters communication between stakeholders. It is a useful negotiation tool for debates among users. Because of its advantages, multi-criteria analysis is often used for the resolution of complex issues, and in conflicting situations, such as in national and regional development.

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Multi-criteria analysis develops a homogeneous and simultaneous approach of a range of components during the evaluation, which creates good overall understanding of the various components of the analysis. In this sense, it rationalises the decision process. Even though mathematical or cartographic tools can be complex, the bases on which they choose criteria and rate performance are straightforward, understandable, and drafted by the group in charge of the analysis. Thus, key stakeholders have good visibility over both the process and the progress towards successive decisions. The most important advantage of multi-criteria analysis is its capacity to simplify complex situations. In practice, beyond a certain number of criteria, decision-makers cannot take account of the totality of information into their judgement. Multi-criteria analysis breaks down the components of complex situations and structures them, in order to progressively find a solution in a transparent way. In beneficiary countries, interventions in fields such as poverty alleviation, maintaining security, immigration control, or trade development can benefit from this type of analysis, as long as it is adequately funded. The use of this tool as an analytical methodology for complex objectives can be instructive in ex post evaluations, where the strategies and stakeholders interests are diverging.

In ex ante and intermediary evaluations, multi-criteria analysis can be useful:

Thus, in country evaluations where situations are often challenging, multi-criteria analyses should use simple methodologies. The analyses should be limited to the comparison of straightforward activities, and conducted with a limited number of criteria. In addition, the time span and the cost of such a high level of analysis may be unsuitable to the timescales and budgets usually agreed for an evaluation. When the tool is used in challenging situations, where stakeholders have divergent opinions, it requires experienced expertise. In ex post evaluations, multi-criteria analysis can contribute to the evaluation of a programme or a policy through the appraisal of its impacts. In the evaluation field, multi-criteria analysis is usually an ex ante evaluation tool, and is particularly used for the examination of the intervention's strategic choices. It may also be used as a negotiation tool supporting debates about the intervention's strategic choices. The analysis compares several choices (roads, choices related to national and regional development, public procurement tenders, etc.), or various measures within a programme. Above all, multi-criteria analysis is a tool that assist decision-making. It is often used for planning assistance and in planning-related ex ante analyses.

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