Australasian Evaluation Society: 2008 International Conference - Evaluation: Adding Value.

This conferen­ce aims to address how evaluation can enhance the value of programmes, policies and services in public, independent and private organisations.

The three sub-themes are designed to sharpen the focus of the conference:

Value for Whom? provides a reminder that effective evaluation is ‘audience driven' and invites us to consider whose interests an evaluation might serve, will serve and should serve;

Whose Values? questions the value basis upon which recommendations and program decisions will be made, and indicates that this should be a carefully considered decision in evaluation; and

Optimising Value emphasises that evaluation inevitably involves ‘trade-offs', in both the conduct of an evaluation and the utilization of the information obtained, and invites consideration of how the needs of the various program stakeholders might best be served.
The resolution of these issues has significant implications for the conduct and utility of every evaluation. ­