NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ792334
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 10
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1097-6736
EISSN: N/A
Collaborative Relationships in Evaluation Consulting
Maack, Stephen C.; Upton, Jan
New Directions for Evaluation, n111 p57-66 Fall 2006
People are often driven to become "independent" as part of the desire to go out on their own. Independent evaluation consultants, however, frequently collaborate with others on evaluation projects. This chapter explores such collaborative relationships from both sides: those leading evaluations with subcontracted consultants and those who work as subcontractors. The authors developed a brief survey about collaborative relationships that they advertised on the following listservs: the American Evaluation Association's (AEA) Independent Consulting Topical Interest Group (46 percent of respondents), AEA's Multiethnic-Issues Topical Interest Group (18 percent of respondents), and the Evaluation Anthropology Topical Interest Group (10 percent of respondents). Members of these lists were also encouraged to invite others who might be interested to contribute (6 percent of respondents). Twenty percent of respondents did not indicate how they heard of the survey. Ninety-four consultants completed the survey. The survey included basic questions to respondents about their experience as consultants, business structures, and collaborative relationships. The authors also asked participants to give examples that described ways they had partnered with others and emphasized their interest in efforts intended to increase diversity. They encouraged consultants to tell them stories about their experiences with collaboration and allowed commonalities, concerns, and definitions to emerge from their writings. Results from the convenience sample provide rich insights about how independent evaluation consultants work and collaborate with each other. Statistical results reflect only this particular self-selected group, but the findings are a starting place in providing an understanding of the importance of collaboration and can help inform future research efforts. Fifty-seven people (61 percent) shared one or more stories. (Contains 1 table.)
Jossey Bass. Available from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774. Tel: 800-825-7550; Tel: 201-748-6645; Fax: 201-748-6021; e-mail: subinfo@wiley.com; Web site: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/browse/?type=JOURNAL
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A