Internal evaluation: A synthesis of traditional methods and industrial engineering

In evaluation as it has been practiced, requirements for specialized traini ng have caused a trade-off between rigor of method and the extent of progra m staffs involvement in the evaluation process. There is a way to remove th e trade-off between "rigor" and "use," by applying industrial engineering ( IE) tools that, though sophisticated and powerful, are packaged to facilita te use by people with relatively little specialized training. One level of IE use in evaluation simply adds tools to the evaluators' toolbox. The seco nd level employs the methodological abilities of evaluators to adapt and im prove IE tools. Several problems must be solved in order to achieve the nec essary integration. These include inserting the new evaluation technology i nto program settings, training and education, and developing a different ki nd of relationship between professional evaluators and those who work in se ttings where evaluation takes place.