These resources provide guidance on evaluation, information on aspects of evaluating structural changes, and examples of evaluations and reviews of structural changes.

Guidance on evaluation

Australasian Evaluation Society. (2013). ‘Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct of Evaluations’. Retrieved from Code of ethics, Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct of Evaluations — Australian Evaluation Society

Better Evaluation (2014) ‘Rainbow Framework’. Retrieved from Rainbow Framework — Better Evaluation

Superu, & ANZEA. (2016). ‘Evaluation Standards for Aotearoa New Zealand’. Retrieved from Evaluation Standards for Aotearoa New Zealand — Better Evaluation

Better Evaluation. (n.d.). ‘Contribution Analysis’. Retrieved from Contribution Analysis — Better Evaluation

Mayne, J. (2008). ‘Contribution analysis: an approach to exploring cause and effect. Institutional Learning and Change Brief, 1–4’. Retrieved from Contribution Analysis: An approach to exploring cause and effect — Better Evaluation

Social Wellbeing Agency. (various). ‘Guidance’. Retrieved from  Guidance — Social Wellbeing Agency

The Treasury. (2016). The Treasury’s CBAx Tool. Retrieved from The Treasury's CBAx Tool — The Treasury

Information on aspects of evaluating structural changes

Breidahl, K. N., Gjelstrup, G., Hansen, M. B., & Hansen, H. F. (2015). ‘Evaluation of Large-scale Public Sector Reforms’. In American Journal of Evaluation 38(2). Retrieved from (PDF) Evaluation of Large-Scale Public-Sector Reforms: A Comparative Analysis — Researchgate

Dixon, R., & Hood, C. (2015). ‘How Data Churn Destroys Evidence about Public Service Performance and What Can be Done about it’. Retrieved from How Data Churn Destroys Evidence about Public Service Performance and What Can be Done about it — Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford 

Gash, T. (2015). ‘Reshaping government. Strengthening Whitehall’s top-level structures and processes’. Retrieved from Reshaping government — The Institute for Government

National Audit Office. (2010). ‘Reorganising central government. Methodology’. Retrieved from Reorganising central government — National Audit Office

Panchamia, N., & Thomas, P. (2014). ‘Civil Service Reform in the Real World Patterns of success in UK civil service reform’. Retrieved from Civil Service Reform in the Real World — The Institute for Government

Rieder, S., & Lehmann, L. (2002). ‘Evaluation of New Public Management Reforms in Switzerland: Empirical Results and Reflections on Methodology’. Public Management Review, 3(2), 25–43. Retrieved from: Evaluation of new public management reforms in switzerland: empirical results and reflections on methodology — Emerald Insight

State Services Commission, The Treasury & Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. (2015). Core Guide 1: Understanding the Performance Improvement Framework Agency Model. Retrieved from Core Guide 1: What is the Performance Improvement Framework? — Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission(PDF, 331 KB)

Examples of evaluations and reviews of structural changes

Central Agencies Shared Services (New Zealand)

Ernst & Young. (2013). ‘Review of lessons from CASS – One year on’. Retrieved from Central Agencies Shared Services Information Release — The Treasury

Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)

Gash, T., McCrae, J., & McClory, J. (2011). ‘Transforming Whitehall departments Evaluation methodology’. Retrieved from Transforming Whitehall departments — The Institute for Government

McCrae, J., Page, J., & McClory, J. (2011). ‘Transformation in the Ministry of Justice’. 2011 Interim Evaluation Report. Retrieved from Transformation in the Ministry of Justice — The Institute for Government

Social Housing Reform Programme (New Zealand)

Martin Jenkins, & Crest Consultancy. (2015a). ‘SHRP implementation review part one’. Retrieved from Findings of a review into the implementation of the Government’s Social Housing Reforms Part One — Ministry of Social Development

Police and fire reform (Scotland)

SIPR, What Works Scotland, & ScotCen. (2016). ‘Evaluation of Police and Fire Reform: Year 1 summary report’. Retrieved from Evaluation of Police and Fire Reform — What Works Scotland

Ofcom (United Kingdom)

The Comptroller and Auditor General. (2006). ‘The creation of Ofcom: Wider lessons for public sector mergers of regulatory agencies’. Retrieved from The creation of Ofcom: wider lessons for public sector mergers of regulatory agencies — National Audit Office

System architecture and design

Appropriate structures, strong governance and clear accountability help the Public Service and wider public sector organisations to work together to deliver better outcomes for the public. 

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