Framework Draft 2 Page One

This document describes a framework for evaluating the retrospective impact of technology deployment programs. Program managers and evaluators in Federal, State, and local governments and in public entities and institutions are increasingly accountable for delivering and demonstrating results of their programs. The impact framework assists program managers and evaluators to develop and implement better and more cost effective evaluations. The seven step process, the generic templates, the generic evaluation questions, and the evaluation designs that make up the framework can be used to develop powerful and meaningful impact evaluations to refine programs, increase program effectiveness, make the tough decisions to drop ineffective program elements, and to develop credible evidence that communicates the value of the program to stake-holders. An important focus of the framework is increasing understanding of the linkages between program outputs and short term and long term outcomes (impacts). It simplifies and enriches the process of describing and developing measures of target audience response to program outputs, design sound evaluations, and taking credit for all of effects that are attributable to the program. Created for US Department of Energy’s (US DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the framework can be applied to most deployment programs in a broad array of disciplines.