Louann

Louann

Political aspects include who is going to fund this center and its location. Politicians hate spending tax money -- especially on only one group of people. Even if the public is asked to float a bond issue, chances are it will be turned down (as happened in my community. Program planning is a means for program development and is a goal oriented activity based on the assessed needs and problems. Program planning requires that decisions be made. Program evaluation provides the needed information because it is the process of gathering and analyzing the data necessary for appraising alternatives. Technology is the transformation of inputs into outputs. Inputs are the resources such as data and information of needs and problems, intervention methods, and staffing. Outputs are the services and goods that are produced as the result of utilization of the inputs. Political economy is the interaction and dynamic between politics and economic interests. Political means the process by which the organization obtains power and legitimacy. Many people believe that evaluation is about proving the success or failure of a program. This myth assumes that success is implementing the perfect program and never having to hear from employees, customers or clients again -- the program will now run itself perfectly. This doesn't happen in real life. Success is remaining open to continuing feedback and adjusting the program accordingly. Evaluation gives you this continuing feedback. * Direction - Program planning helps to identify what is important to the people of a particular county. It helps the Cooperative Extension Service set program priorities.
* Intent - A plan of work helps communicate to the public what the organization intends to focus on over a specified period of time.
* Commitment - The best way to ensure follow through on intentions is to put those intentions in writing. A plan of work makes a commitment to act in accordance with intentions.