Rapid Cycle Learning: From Program Design to Implementation

Following four decades of leadership development programming, a major U.S. health foundation made the decision to restructure its well-known leadership development programs. Rather than waiting for program implementation to do evaluation, the Foundation decided to use rapid and intentional iterative learning loops to evaluate the program strategy and design process itself. As the programs began implementation, the evaluation team worked to transition rapid cycle learning into a norm for each of the programs.

This presentation explores why this approach was chosen, the tools used, and the challenges that evaluators have encountered in helping facilitate this major cultural shift.

Presenters

• Denise E. Herrera, Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Lisa Frantzen, Senior Consultant, TCC Group
• Jared Raynor, Director of Evaluation, TCC Group

Host

Eastern Evaluation Research Society Conference