How do Managers in a certain welfare agency use the Policy Evaluation Research

and Case Study in relation to social policy?

Significance of Project Evaluation Research and Case Study.

The concept of evaluation in any project implementation is a very important
means in any field of study and all the more it is significant in the field of crafting
and developing social policies. Evaluation serve as not only a means but also a
tool used by social welfare managers and implementers in order to identify gaps
in the policy that needs to be addressed. These gaps may be existent on the
processes, phases, modes of intervention, the impacts to the client system, and
the overall run of the project or program as guided by
the policy. Through identifying these gaps or taking in consideration of what went
wrong and what went right, the managers will know what needs to be changed,
scrapped, or improved, hence, further enhancement of the policy and the project
is given a direction.
Speaking of direction, case study, on the other hand, is yet another essential tool
used by project managers which sets the direction of the planning phase of the
policy. As compared to evaluation, case study can be a form of research done
before the policy is crafted. This may be where potential problems are identified.
Indeed, in every problem, there should be a solution especially when talking
about the welfare and protection of the vulnerable sectors. Policy is born out of
these societal problems. Simple case studies collected from different individuals
belonging to one sector may unfold collective problems and challenges that may
need to be addressed through crafting a policy in response to their needs.

How are they Utilized in terms of Social Policy.

Moreover, in a perspective of a regional staff, it may also be argued that
evaluation also serves as a tool for the Central Office to fix the bugs in the policy
they crafted themselves. This is because most of the policy were being handed
from the central management down to the local implementers. In the case of a
top-down policy route, it is well expected that problems in the implementation of
the policy will persist since it lacks experience. To elaborate, the policy may be
well crafted in terms of technicalities, but it lacks an actual encounter of what
really are the situation or needs of the society the policy serves.
In connection to this, case study in the local level may be or may not be a full
answer to the problems in a top-down policy route. Yes, when solutions to
societal problems are identified in a local level, policies can be personalized as to
the needs of the sectors in concern. However, it may be deemed an arduous task
for the local implementers since there are numerous challenges in the localities
that need to be taken care of immediately and responsively. So, it is either the top
management navigates the course of the policy blindly or the local stakeholders
empathize with the people with lack of technical support. Neither.
In my opinion, the two parties should work hand in hand to fully answer the
problems and work with the sectors in identifying the solutions.