Systems Concepts in Evaluation: An Expert Anthology brings together a wide range of systems concepts, methodologies and methods and applies them to evaluation settings. This book addresses the questions:
- What is a systems approach?
- What makes it different from other approaches?
- Why is it relevant to evaluation?
The 14 chapters cover a wide range of systems concepts and methods. Most chapters are case study based and describe the use of systems concepts in real life evaluations. The approaches and methods covered include:
- System Dynamics (both quantitative and qualitative)
- Cybernetics and the Viable System Model
- Soft Systems Methodology
- Critical Systems Thinking
- Complex Adaptive Systems
There are also overview chapters that explore the history and diversity of systems approaches and their potential within the evaluation field. There is a substantial introduction by Gerald Midgley to the key developments in systems concepts and methods over the past 50 years, and this explores the implications for evaluation of each of those developments