AYN572 Program Evaluation in Organisations
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | AYN572 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | 48 credit points of completed studies |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,416 |
| International unit fee | $4,944 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | AYN572 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 48credit points of completed studies. |
| Coordinator: | Kylie Kingston | k.kingston@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit introduces students to the discipline of program evaluation. Program evaluation is a transdisciplinary field that focusses on understanding the merit, worth or significance of programs, policies, and/or practices in order to determine their suitability and assess their effectiveness and efficiency. Evaluation can also help to enhance organisational transparency and accountability toward different stakeholders. In this unit, students will be introduced to critical theoretical perspectives and worldviews underpinning different evaluation practices and purposes, including ethical and stakeholder considerations. This will lead to students learning how to plan and design evaluations including understanding different methodological approaches and their application in varied contexts. The focus of the unit is program evaluation in organisations such as charities, foundations, nonprofit organisations, public sector entities and social enterprises.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify and compare different theoretical perspectives underpinning approaches to conducting evaluations and their application in real-world contexts. KS (1.1), HO (2.1)
- Critically analyse and justify approaches to evaluation in light of ethical principles and impact upon stakeholders. SE (5.1, 5.2)
- Plan, and justify, a detailed program evaluation design, including how to report evaluation findings. HO (2.2) Relates to: PG Business Capabilities: HO (2.2)
Content
- Exploring the theory of evaluation and its value within foundations, charities, nonprofit organisations and social enterprises
- Designing and applying theories of change and logic models to plan and justify evaluations
- Reviewing evaluation approaches and methodologies
- Identifying ethical considerations and including stakeholders in evaluative practices
Learning Approaches
This unit is delivered in a blended format to maximise flexibility for students.
Weekly combined lecture/tutorials are presented and recorded to provide a background, introduction and overview to the main topics and perspectives being considered each week. Class discussion and participation is encouraged. Additionally, readings and associated weekly tutorial activities will be made available online. Completing the assigned activities prior to class is recommended for maximising learning from the unit.
The unit is therefore appropriate for both on-campus and off-campus students through the use of both classroom-based settings as well as online collaborative tools (such as Zoom) to facilitate discussion.
All resource materials will be available each week from the Canvas Site, including a recording of the lecture/tutorials.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
The assessment for this unit is designed to encourage critical and reflective thinking upon evaluation within organisations and its application in different contexts. In light of this, the assessment tasks support students to develop and apply knowledge of evaluation theories, purposes, and approaches whilst also considering who benefits from evaluation. This leads to demonstrating the ability to apply ethical principles and considerations.
Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Evaluation Theory Test
In response to the presentation of different real-world contextual examples and challenges, students will identify, describe, and reflect upon different evaluation purposes and their suitability based on theoretical considerations.
Assessment: Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis
Using a case study approach, students will prepare stakeholder analyses and critically reflect upon ethical dilemmas and practices in relation to evaluation within the different real-world contexts. The analyses must be supported by academic literature and identify underpinning theoretical perspectives.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Evaluation Design Report
Students will plan and design a program evaluation for a real-world context. The evaluation design will be embedded within an appropriate evaluation paradigm and include an overview of the evaluation context, evaluation purpose, and a theory of change. The design will include an appropriate methodology and proposed reporting techniques.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
The resources for this unit are provided primarily online via QUT Readings. There is also a single required textbook for this unit:
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Mertens, D. M., & Wilson, A. T. (2018). Program evaluation theory and practice. Guilford Publications
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
HO (2.1): Critical Analysis
Relates to: ULO1, Evaluation Theory Test
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO3, Evaluation Design Report
KS (1.1): Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge
Relates to: ULO1, Evaluation Theory Test, Evaluation Design Report
SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding
Relates to: ULO2, Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis
SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility
Relates to: ULO2, Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis , Evaluation Design Report
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BS11 Master of Business
- Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
Relates to: ULO1, Evaluation Theory Test, Evaluation Design Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues and critically reflect on the responsibilities and impacts of organisations in national and international business contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis , Evaluation Design Report - Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Evaluation Theory Test - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
Relates to: ULO3, Evaluation Design Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Online
| Unit code: | AYN572 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 48credit points of completed studies. |
Overview
This unit introduces students to the discipline of program evaluation. Program evaluation is a transdisciplinary field that focusses on understanding the merit, worth or significance of programs, policies, and/or practices in order to determine their suitability and assess their effectiveness and efficiency. Evaluation can also help to enhance organisational transparency and accountability toward different stakeholders. In this unit, students will be introduced to critical theoretical perspectives and worldviews underpinning different evaluation practices and purposes, including ethical and stakeholder considerations. This will lead to students learning how to plan and design evaluations including understanding different methodological approaches and their application in varied contexts. The focus of the unit is program evaluation in organisations such as charities, foundations, nonprofit organisations, public sector entities and social enterprises.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify and compare different theoretical perspectives underpinning approaches to conducting evaluations and their application in real-world contexts. KS (1.1), HO (2.1)
- Critically analyse and justify approaches to evaluation in light of ethical principles and impact upon stakeholders. SE (5.1, 5.2)
- Plan, and justify, a detailed program evaluation design, including how to report evaluation findings. HO (2.2) Relates to: PG Business Capabilities: HO (2.2)
Content
- Exploring the theory of evaluation and its value within foundations, charities, nonprofit organisations and social enterprises
- Designing and applying theories of change and logic models to plan and justify evaluations
- Reviewing evaluation approaches and methodologies
- Identifying ethical considerations and including stakeholders in evaluative practices
Learning Approaches
This unit is delivered in a blended format to maximise flexibility for students.
Weekly combined lecture/tutorials are presented and recorded to provide a background, introduction and overview to the main topics and perspectives being considered each week. Class discussion and participation is encouraged. Additionally, readings and associated weekly tutorial activities will be made available online. Completing the assigned activities prior to class is recommended for maximising learning from the unit.
The unit is therefore appropriate for both on-campus and off-campus students through the use of both classroom-based settings as well as online collaborative tools (such as Zoom) to facilitate discussion.
All resource materials will be available each week from the Canvas Site, including a recording of the lecture/tutorials.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
The assessment for this unit is designed to encourage critical and reflective thinking upon evaluation within organisations and its application in different contexts. In light of this, the assessment tasks support students to develop and apply knowledge of evaluation theories, purposes, and approaches whilst also considering who benefits from evaluation. This leads to demonstrating the ability to apply ethical principles and considerations.
Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Evaluation Theory Test
In response to the presentation of different real-world contextual examples and challenges, students will identify, describe, and reflect upon different evaluation purposes and their suitability based on theoretical considerations.
Assessment: Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis
Using a case study approach, students will prepare stakeholder analyses and critically reflect upon ethical dilemmas and practices in relation to evaluation within the different real-world contexts. The analyses must be supported by academic literature and identify underpinning theoretical perspectives.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Evaluation Design Report
Students will plan and design a program evaluation for a real-world context. The evaluation design will be embedded within an appropriate evaluation paradigm and include an overview of the evaluation context, evaluation purpose, and a theory of change. The design will include an appropriate methodology and proposed reporting techniques.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
The resources for this unit are provided primarily online via QUT Readings. There is also a single required textbook for this unit:
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Mertens, D. M., & Wilson, A. T. (2018). Program evaluation theory and practice. Guilford Publications
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)
HO (2.1): Critical Analysis
Relates to: ULO1, Evaluation Theory Test
HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making
Relates to: ULO3, Evaluation Design Report
KS (1.1): Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge
Relates to: ULO1, Evaluation Theory Test, Evaluation Design Report
SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding
Relates to: ULO2, Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis
SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility
Relates to: ULO2, Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis , Evaluation Design Report
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.BS11 Master of Business
- Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
Relates to: ULO1, Evaluation Theory Test, Evaluation Design Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues and critically reflect on the responsibilities and impacts of organisations in national and international business contexts.
Relates to: ULO2, Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis , Evaluation Design Report - Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
Relates to: ULO1, Evaluation Theory Test - Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
Relates to: ULO3, Evaluation Design Report - Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
Relates to: ULO2, Evaluation, ethics and stakeholder analysis