The Almost Fading M&E Practice
Eight Steps to Bring it Back!
Always forgotten in all OD intervention designs but could make or break the results.
How do you roll-out an OD intervention? Are you a hands-off or a hands-on practitioner? Let me clarify. If you empower the team to work the goal after planning the roadmap details, then you are a hands-off person. Else, you may be a micromanager who needs so much what’s happening information and meddles along the way. Best answer: Depends on your trust on the team and the nature of the intervention (or in non-profits, a development project). So what makes the former roll out more interventions than the latter?
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). A system competence for effective intervention design and implementation.
What is it?
In the ever-changing and almost fluid landscape of OD, the need for continuous improvement and data driven decision-making has become increasingly crucial. M&E offers a systematic and strategic approach to assess the effectiveness of OD initiatives. In this issue, we will explore M&E’s key concepts, benefits, and best practices for OD practitioners. By integrating M&E practices into your work, you can drive better and sustainable change that maximize the impact of the OD interventions.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring and evaluation are complementary processes that enable organizations (teams, groups, departments or units) to assess their progress, measure the outcomes as the intervention unfolds, and make informed decisions about future actions. Monitoring involves the systematic tracking and documentation of the KPIs over time throughout the intervention. Meanwhile evaluation that may happened in the middle or end involves the assessment of the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the OD intervention.
Benefits
OD intervention designers and implementation managers gain actionable insights using M&E practices effectively. First, it provides you with data and insights that enable evidence-based decision-making, leading to more effective and targeted interventions. Second, it helps organizations identify strengths and weaknesses in their strategies, allowing for course corrections and improvement. Thirdly, it enhances accountability and transparency by demonstrating the impact of the intervention to the management (or stakeholders), employees, and the wider community. Finally and most importantly, it facilitates organizational learning, enabling practitioners to build on successes and learn from failures, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
The 8-Step Process
(a) Establish Objective: Clearly define the objectives of the M&E process, aligning them with the overall goals of the intervention and the context. This clarity will guide the selection of appropriate indicators and data collection methods.
(b) Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Identify relevant KPIs that capture the desired outcomes and impacts of the OD intervention. KPIs should be measurable, specific, and aligned with the organization's mission and goals.
(c) Plan Data Collection and Analysis: Develop a data collection plan that outlines the methods, tools, and frequency of data collection. Ensure that data collection methods are reliable, valid, and inclusive. Prioritize both qualitative and quantitative data to gain a holistic understanding of the intervention's impact.
(d) Rope-in Management: Coop management support in visible ways. Have everyone employees, customers (or beneficiaries) involved throughout the M&E process. Their perspectives and input will provide valuable insights and increase ownership of the evaluation findings.
(e) Use Technology: Leverage technology and online or digital tools to streamline data collection, analysis, and reporting processes. This will enhance efficiency, accuracy, and data security while enabling real-time monitoring and remote collaboration.
(f) Regular Reporting and Feedback: Develop a reporting frame to share evaluation findings with management. Use visualizations to present data clearly and concisely. Provide actionable recommendations for improvement and encourage feedback from management.
(g) Cultivate a Learning Culture: Foster a culture of learning and reflection within the organization. Encourage other practitioners to critically analyze evaluation findings, learn from successes and failures, and apply insights to future interventions.
(h) Continuous Improvement: Emphasize the iterative nature of M&E, with periodic reviews and adjustments to the evaluation framework. Incorporate lessons learned into the development process to enhance the effectiveness and impact of future interventions.
Conclusion
M&E is an indispensable tool for OD practitioners seeking to drive sustainable change and maximize the impact of their interventions. By implementing effective M&E practices, practitioners can track (rather than being hands-on) the progress and outcomes. It provides valuable insights on our actions today for better interventions design.
So. Let’s roll-out the next intervention…
NOTES
Forthcoming Courses for OD Professionals
Milalin Javellana and Tita Puangco, ESSENTIALS OF OD, June 8 (8:00 to 5:00) Meralco PowerTech. Ortigas
Dr. Josephine Perez PROCESS OBSERVATION AND ANALYSIS, June 27-28
Dr. Joy Calleja OD DIAGNOSIS, September 6 (In-Person)
Dr Melissa S Reyes Designing OD Interventions November 17(In-Person)
Event Announcement: ODLAB 2023: REIMAGINE OD. ODPN takes the lead in driving and inspiring a new direction for OD in the Philippines by first REIMAGINING THE PRACTICE on July 20—21, 2023 in Davao. You’re invited. Connect to ODPN (odpnsecretariat@gmail.com) for a brochure, registration and sponsorship opportunities. Join us! the date!!!
Dr. Ed Canela Courses:
1. Data Analytics with AI for MSMEs #3 at University of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries (UP ISSI) via Zoom June 20-22, 2023.
2. AI for OD Practitioners, June 30 and July 7, 2023, (online) for Php 5,000 Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute (SAIDI) Graduate School of Organizational Development and Planning. Email interest to Ms. Cynthia Cruz.