Abstract:
Plan outcome evaluation (POE) is very significant rather than focusing on planning process,
usefulness of plan, content and quality of plan .POE has been ignored in the field of
planning due to lack of proper POE method. Therefore planners cannot identify whether or
why plans achieve their objectives, or learn from the results of past interventions to improve
planning practice. This study focuses on the ex post facto evaluation considering the
outcomes of action projects of development plan and aim to develop a POE method to
evaluate outcomes of development plan towards the achievement of its objectives
quantitatively since no one has made such an attempt. A comprehensive literature survey
revealed that adaptation of the components of objective driven, theory-driven and theorybased,
utilization-driven and theoretical data-driven evaluation methods will lead to
overcome related issues on plan outcome evaluation. Basic four steps suitable to incorporate
in any POE method were identified by referring POE methodologies developed by Mayne
(2001) and Laurian et al,(2004,2010).
This developed POE method includes four steps comprising objective achievement matrix
and relevant mathematical models. Field surveys and questionnaire surveys were carried out
to identify public perception on achievement of outcomes of action projects. Developed POE
method can be used as a progress monitoring tool and also as an outcome evaluation tool
since it is sensitive to evaluate the outcomes of ongoing projects as well. Results of the
evaluation of outcome of six action projects under Moratuwa development plan indicated
that, outcomes of all three implemented action projects have been contributed to achieve
relevant criteria of objectives in moderate level by indicating CAVj values between 41% to
65% .Other partly implemented three action projects have been contributed to achieve
related criteria of objectives in low level by indicating CAVj values in between 18% to 40%.
This POE method will be a useful tool to planners, project managers, and policy makers to
improve planning practices and to provide the necessary knowledge to revise plans, improve
performance of the projects. This study can be extended to evaluate the outcomes of
development plan when objectives are clear and measurable further considering theory,
process and objectives driven methods in depth.
