Andreas Balthasar

The Effects of Institutional Design on the Utilization of Evaluation Evidenced Using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)

This article presents some of the results from a study in progress, focusing on the influence of the institutional distance between evaluators and evaluees on the utilization of evaluations. The basis for the results presented here is an analysis of ten case studies from Switzerland. These cases involve evaluations that were carried out in different institutional contexts, with widely varying institutional distances between evaluators and evaluees. ‘Qualitative Comparative Analysis’ (QCA) has been used to interpret the cases, in order to allow a combination of case-and variable-centred comparisons. The analysis indicates that, under certain conditions, the institutional distance between evaluators and evaluees has no influence on the use of evaluations. In particular, formative objectives can be achieved quite independently of distance. When interpreting the results, however, one should not neglect the fact that they are solely based on a systematic evaluation of ten case studies with QCA. Generalization is not possible on this basis, nor is this the aim of the present article. On the contrary, the objective is to continue developing the debate about the influence of the institutional distance between evaluators and evaluees on the utilization of evaluations.

Learning from Evaluations Effects of the Evaluation of the Swiss Energy 2000 Programme

This article presents select results of a study on the forms and the conditions of learning through evaluation, based on case studies of evaluations of the Swiss Energy 2000 Programme. Taking into account current approaches to learning theory, the analysis makes it clear that evaluations trigger different kinds of learning effects that act on different levels. The study concludes that the majority of effects on the operational level concerning the programmes fine-tuning (i.e. development of guidelines for implementation, optimization of the database, clarifying target groups etc.) are essentially dependent on how well the evaluators and their commissioning clients accomplish their tasks. The most relevant factors influencing direct learning from evaluation are thus: the involvement of affected parties in the formulation of the evaluation questions, the use of feedback circuits during the course of the evaluation and the production of a report whose language is appropriate to its intended audience. Effects at the strategic and structural level are equally positively influenced by the abovementioned factors. However, they also depend on the occurrence of socalled ‘windows of opportunity’. Although evaluators and their clients cannot control these, they can try to take advantage of them when they occur.

Institutional Design and Utilization of Evaluation: A Contribution to a Theory of Evaluation Influence Based on Swiss Experience

Growing interest in the institutionalization of evaluation in the public administration raises the question as to which institutional arrangement offers optimal conditions for the utilization of evaluations. Institutional arrangement denotes the formal organization of processes and competencies, together with procedural rules, that are applicable independently of individual evaluation projects. It reflects the evaluation practice of an institution and defines the distance between evaluators and evaluees. This article outlines the results of a broad-based study of all 300 or so evaluations that the Swiss Federal Administration completed from 1999 to 2002. On this basis, it derives a theory of the influence of institutional factors on the utilization of evaluations.

Approaches to improve the interaction between general practitioners and migrants – a systematic review of international literature

Purpose Health monitoring of the migrant population in most European countries shows that migrants have a lower standard of health conditions than the resident population. One of the problems is that the interaction between migrants and general practitioners (GPs) is not optimal. Most of the migrants are not able to fully understand the GP’s advice or instructions. GPs report that they are not adequately supported by health institutions, and they are asking for new solutions. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic review to find existing international approaches to improve the interaction between GPs and their migrant patients. Design/methodology/approach The literature search identified 2,387 articles, 36 of which met the full inclusion criteria. In total, 12 of the included studies referenced approaches for improving GPs’ communication skills. Seven articles described solutions for a better understanding of cultural differences, and six articles listed approaches to health education for GPs. One article highlighted how health information can improve the interaction between GPs and migrants, and four articles detailed new technologies that could improve and enhance quality of care. The last six articles included good practice strategies described by GPs. Findings This paper provides an overview of international approaches from the viewpoint of GPs. It concludes that there is no single instrument or method that works in all situations. There are, however, a wide range of approaches available that could lead to substantial improvements in the quality of care for the migrant population. Research limitations/implications Different health systems in the reviewed countries and changing roles of GPs must be taken into consideration when making statements about successful approaches. Migrants have different backgrounds and cannot all be categorized as one and the same group of patients. Another limitation of the review concerns the evidence level of the articles included, since most of the studies do not reach high level of evidence. In addition, there is a need to analyze aspects of the relationship between GPs and the migrant population that have been neglected up to now, such as financial issues, patients’ expectations, or lack of trust. Originality/value This paper provides an overview of international approaches from the viewpoint of GPs.

„Second generation governance instruments“: Eine erfolgversprechende innovationspolitische Antwort des Staates auf die Herausforderung globalisierter Arenen

Die weltumspannende Vernetzung der nationalen Markte ist in vollem Gange: Der Ausbau der Transport- und Kommunikationsstrukturen wird vorangetrieben, die verschiedenen Ubermittlungsmedien werden standardisiert und normiert, die grosen Finanzplatze werden uber Satelliten miteinander verbunden, good news und bad news machen in Sekunden ihre Runden um den Globus. Dank Roboterisierung und Automatisation sind alle Arten von wirtschaftlichen Tatigkeiten heute prinzipiell an allen Orten der Welt denkbar.