Evaluating transformative innovation policy. Insights from two experimental policies

Highly complex and uncertain environments require experimentation and a different approach to evaluation.  This paper makes the case for a ‘formative evaluataion’ approach and explores the implications of following this approach for the skills, attitudes and values needed by those inovlved in the evaluation process.

This article presents our approach to the evaluation of transformative innovation policies. To be consistent with the principles and objectives of these policies, we needed to implement an evaluation approach that was supportive of experimental policies for highly complex and uncertain environments. The article presents a flexible approach to formative evaluation, which is, however, rooted in a specific theoretical understanding of how transitions occur. We present the approach, the practical challenges we faced when trying to implement it, how we dealt with them and the implications of our responses for the skills, attitudes and values required from evaluators.