Evaluating the Evaluating the EnvironmentEnvironment

Why do we evaluate Why do we evaluate environments?environments?

• To provide/have valid, reliable, and useful information

• The evaluation result is useful for those who

a) Manage the environmentb) Promulgate and implement policyc) Plan and design the environment

Resulted in…Resulted in…• Improvement of decision-making

quality with reference to environmental management as well as change.

ExampleExample• In the 1990s, the gender ratio of women in top positions to women in

middle and lower management levels is very low (Koshak, Gupta & Koshal, 1998).

• Despite the increasing number of women in Malaysia’s labor market, the lopsided scenario remains.

• For example, in 2006 the Female Labor Force Participation (FLFPR) was 45.8 percent (Labour Force Survey Report First Quarter 2007 Malaysia), but there was still a wide gap between such statistic and the number of women in leadership positions to represent Malaysian women’s well -being, be it social, economics or political issues (HERVOICE, 2006).

• As a matter of fact, in March 2009, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil herself has vowed to push the ‘Towards Having 30% Women Decision-Makers’ Policy-starting with UMNO itself.

• This yet to be achieved policy calls for continuous assessments of programs/actions taken in order to ensure the success of the policy.

Questions of:Questions of:• Whether or not enough exposures given

to top administrators/managements on the importance of gender equity etc.

Values and EvaluationValues and Evaluation• When we are making judgement or

decisions, we usually look around for the physical characteristics in the environment that could support our personal needs.

• Example: University students that would like to stay off-campus would look for a house that the rent and travel cost is affordable, provide convenience to classes and library etc.

• In the process of making this decision, the student is actually conducting an inventory of existing environments, assessing each alternative, against a set of personally important physical, economic and social criteria and then selecting the alternative judged to provide the most satisfying accommodation.

• Such evaluation relates to the determination of the quality or worth of the environment.

• At the same time, the evaluation is also related to the concept of values (frame of reference encompassing beliefs, thoughts, feelings, attitudes), that influence judgement, setting of goals, identification of needs etc.

• Values are essential antecedents to evaluation, since they help specify needs and problems, and constitute a starting point in the evaluative process (Sochman, 1967).

• And, public policy is an important medium for the explication of values.

VALUES

NEEDS AND PROCESS

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS OR DOMAINS

STANDARDS AND CRITERIA

MEASUREMENT

• Public policies are actually statements of normative social values.

• The goals of policies, which refers to a desired end-state are expressed in terms of values inherent in the policies.

The Issue of People with The Issue of People with DisabilitiesDisabilities

• In Malaysia, the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act only came into force in July 2008.

• To allow PWDs to enjoy better public transport facilities, amenities and services.

• To allow equal opportunities to health, education, information, communication and technology, improved employment opportunities, sports, culture etc.

Question:Question:• What does this tell us??

Subjectivity and ObjectivitySubjectivity and Objectivity• So, environments are evaluated using

both subjective (human perceptual system) and objective measures.

• Usually the objective measures are not derived without subjective judgement.

ConclusionConclusion• Evaluation of policy calls us to assess the

adequacy of existing environments and to provide guidance for the creation of new environments or renovation of existing environments.

• The standards and criteria used in evaluation are based on specific goals and objectives – to address societal values, needs and problems.