Abstract:
This case traces the evolution of thinking about, and the implementation of, performance assessment at one of Turkey's largest and most respected nonprofit organizations, the Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey (TEGV). TEGV delivers a broad array of educational enrichment programs to low income children across Turkey through a team of volunteers. In contrast to many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across the world, which have adopted performance measurement reluctantly, as a necessary but onerous condition of receiving grant funds, TEGV embraced the idea early, for its own organizational purposes. In the course of telling TEGV's performance assessment story, the case includes detailed descriptions of two different approaches to program review and two broader impact studies. It includes 17 pages of exhibits-most of which provide samples of study results for students to review and discuss. TEGV's approach to assessment has been varied, creative and has evolved over time. Students of performance evaluation will likely see both pluses and minuses in the nature of each assessment described in this case, ensuring a rich and lively discussion.
Learning Objective:
The case can be used to compare the four different kinds of performance evaluation described in the case, focusing on key decisions undergirding each: what to measure and why, how to measure it, who does the measuring (tradeoffs of an internal vs. external evaluator, for e.g.), and what the organization does with the data gathered. Along the way, students will be challenged to think about the tradeoffs any organization will need to weigh when choosing a performance measurement strategy.
