Stakeholders

An evaluation can have several stakeholders. After yourself, the most prominent group of stakeholders is the audience for the final report—often composed of managers, funders, or other authority figures. Of course, they are not your only stakeholders and may not even be the most important ones. Other stakeholders may include:

• Other library staff who worked on the project or who may work on the project (or similar projects) in the future

• Any partners who worked with you

• Participants in the program, as well as their parents.

• Other community members who are impacted by the initiative.

• People who may want to participate in the future.

Your stakeholders should be involved in the evaluation process—defining values, identifying essential measures, and collecting or providing data. They may have different perspectives on what the outcomes should be and ways to measure them. You may not be able to speak to every individual stakeholder, but try to get input from representatives of each group, at least. However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to follow every recommendation from every group—as the saying goes, if you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one.[6]</sup> The purpose of an evaluation is to inform a decision, not dictate the path forward.[7]</sup>

The answer to the question should be something one or more of your stakeholder groups can use to make a decision (such as continuing to fund a program or ending a partnership).

PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION

Stakeholders should always be involved in an evaluation, providing context, advice, and feedback about the evaluation. Participatory evaluation takes stakeholder participation to the next level and actively involves stakeholders in the process of planning and carrying out the evaluation. To learn more about participatory evaluation, see Chapter 36, Section 2 of the Community Toolbox: Community-Based Participatory Research.