A strategic approach to R and E
The Department of Internal Affairs has developed a new framework to bring greater cohesion to its research and evaluation work across a disparate range of activities.
Sue Walker, Manager of Research and Evaluation Services, said Internal Affairs is an organisation with many different types of responsibilities, such as supporting local government, contributing to community/hapū development, identity services (births, deaths, marriages and passports), civil defence and emergency management, executive government support, and regulation of gambling, racing and censorship.
"The department is the oldest government department and diversity has been a consistent characteristic throughout its history. We have a common purpose of serving and connecting citizens, communities and government to build a strong, safe nation, but not a core focus such as Justice or Social Development have," Sue said.
"So in terms of an R&E strategy for the department, the diversity of responsibilities makes that hard to do. We don't have one or two key themes we can build the strategy around."
Instead, Sue has opted for an approach that will give more consistency to how people approach R&E. "We developed a framework that is about the way we do things, as much as it is about the specific nature of R&E itself."
The framework, which will be operating from July, will bring a strategic focus to the use and management of R&E, with outcomes and strategic priorities driving R&E agendas of each business unit. "This gets people thinking of research and evaluation as part of the planning process - for example, if we are planning a new intervention, or changing an existing one, how will we know it is working?"
Each business unit will decide its own R&E agenda and the senior management team will focus on research outcomes rather than individual business group research programmes.
An R&E advisory group will ensure the programmes align with the Department’s outcomes and strategic objectives. This group will also provide peer reviews, and will report on the results and uses of research and evaluation projects to the senior management team.
The framework encourages the wide dissemination of research and evaluation results, using the intranet, to build a strong and accessible evidence base. It will also provide for increased support and information on R&E for business groups, including a training programme to help business groups develop and use R&E more effectively.
Sue manages a small in-house team of five. "We have to service a large department. So to make sure we keep ahead of the game we need to have business groups thinking in advance about what they need to do. This framework will get more discipline, sequence and focus to the way the business groups work. It will help them prioritise their research and evaluation."
For more information, contact sue.walker@dia.govt.nz
