The evolution of understanding: Positioning evaluation within a comprehensive performance management system

Although performance management has become a common organizational practice, in many cases it has not resulted in substantial program improvement or organizational learning. The author discusses two issues related to performance management systems that are of key concern to evaluators: (a) evaluation is often excluded from these systems in favor of monitoring data, and (b) performance management systems tend to focus on the creation of data rather than its use. The author discusses the complementary roles of evaluation and monitoring data, and highlights some ways in which evaluation can help improve performance management systems.