Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary includes “A share in an enterprise”
in its definition of stake. In this context,
a stakeholder is someone with a share in the program being evaluated.
Each stakeholder has a unique relationship
with your program and a specific interest in the results of your program evaluation.
For instance, someone in your agency’s
leadership might be particularly interested in making sure that your program is
doing what it is supposed to do. Someone
enrolled in your program might want to know that the services he or she receives
are effective.
There are three main groups of stakeholders:
- People involved in operating the program
- People served or affected by the program, either by receiving services or because
their community is better
- People who will use the evaluation to do or decide something about the program.
Each of these groups of stakeholders has many sub-groups. A thorough evaluation considers
the needs of all three groups and, ideally, from several points of view
within each group.
Use meetings, reports and other means to keep all of your stakeholders informed
throughout your evaluation. Ask them for comments and ideas.
Even though your stakeholders are interested in your program and your evaluation,
they may be distracted by other commitments and responsibilities. Their
involvement in your evaluation discussions may change depending on their schedules
and where you are in the evaluation process at that time. If you can keep
information flowing about the evaluation, they will be better prepared to
participate when they can.
