Managing Expectations: Avoiding Conflict during the Full Project Lifecycle

I was thrilled to be invited to lead a workshop at the Seventh International Conference of the African Evaluation Association (AfrEA) in Yaoundé, Cameroon this month. At Capra International Inc., we have been working hard over the past 25 years, and this honour feels like a recognition for the whole team!

Unfortunately, illness kept me from leading the workshop in person, so I am thrilled that Alex Rex was able to travel on short notice and lead the session in my place. The workshop was well received, and many comments were made as to the value that the attendees obtained. I am excited to share the case study I developed that was presented at this workshop.

Surfing the Waves: Managing Expectations in Evaluations

The story follows Olivia and Stephen, two seasoned consultants at Wise Guys Consulting, as they navigate the choppy waters of a high-stakes evaluation project for Better Planet People (BPP). Through their journey, readers will witness the challenges that often arise during different phases of an evaluation:

The Inception Phase: Here, we see the initial excitement of winning a contract quickly tempered by the realities of tight deadlines and changing requirements.
The Implementation Phase: This section highlights the difficulties of balancing client requests with methodological rigour and logistical constraints.
The Reporting Phase: Finally, we explore the complexities of delivering results that meet both scientific standards and client expectations.

Learning Opportunities

While I don't want to give away too much, participants who engage with this case study will have the opportunity to:

• Analyze how evaluation professionals can better manage expectations from the outset of a project
• Explore strategies for handling scope creep and last-minute client requests
• Discuss the importance of clear communication and documentation throughout the evaluation process
• Consider the ethical dimensions of balancing client needs with methodological integrity

The case study is designed to spark meaningful discussions among evaluation managers and practitioners. It includes group discussion questions that encourage participants to apply their own experiences and knowledge to the scenarios presented.

A Tool for Growth

I believe that one of the best ways we can grow as professionals is by learning from each other's experiences. This case study is my humble attempt to contribute to that collective learning process. While it's based on composite experiences, I've tried to capture the very real challenges we face in our work. It's my hope that "Surfing the Waves" will provide valuable insights and spark conversations that help us all become better evaluation professionals.

Remember, in evaluation, as in surfing, it's not about avoiding the waves – it's about learning to ride them skilfully. Let's learn together.

If you were not able to attend, or you misplaced your copy, the case study that was presented and discussed at the workshop is available for download here: