Management Information Systems - Pathfinder International

Exercise... Comparing Monitoring and EvaluationYou can use this exercise with your staff. Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. Onthe left, list all the characteristics of "monitoring" you can think of. On the right, do the samefor "evaluation." After making your list, compare it with Table 1. Do you and your team fullyunderstand some of the differences between monitoring and evaluation? Have you uncoveredany creative uses for either, or both, activities? Do any of the components or differencesreveal weaknesses in your organization’s approach? Brainstorm about how these two activitiescould be improved or make a more consistent, substantial contribution to your organization.Table 1: Some differences between monitoring and evaluationMONITORINGEVALUATION Done routinely, continuously, as part Done periodically, e.g., annually,of day-to-day managementmid-term, or at the end of a project.3 Provides detailed information on Provides summarized and analyzed information.activities. Used to make management decisions: Used to determine how well a completedidentify, analyse and resolve problems.program is meeting or has met its objectives. Reinforces team work, interaction. Used to assess program’s future prospects.MONITORING helps determine:EVALUATION helps determine:a. HOW things are getting done a. Whether ACCOMPLISHMENTS(work performance re: workplan).have fulfilled original objectives.b. WHO is doing the work (staff b. Which ACTIVITIES helped to meet theperformance re individualobjectives.workplan, job descriptions, volunteeror community inputs, etc.) c. The IMPACT of the project.c. WHAT materials and funds are being d. What RESOURCES were usedused (availability and use of resources,wisely and efficiently (cost effectiveness).initial list of activities, technical inputs).e. How the COMMUNITY perceives the projectd. WHEN activities are carried out and and whether they want to sustain it.completed (actual time re: schedulesin project plan). f. Whether scheduled activities werecompleted IN SEQUENCE and ON TIME.