Monitoring vs Evaluation
Between monitoring and evaluation of projects, one can find a variety of differences. Monitoring and Evaluation are two states of analysis in terms of the progress made in relation to the goals of an enterprise or a firm. These two states of analysis differ in their manner of approach. Monitoring is the systematic analysis occasionally made of information to identify changes over a period. On the other hand, evaluation is the analysis of the effectiveness of an activity that would finally prompt a judgment regarding the progress made in relation to the goals of a firm. This is the major difference between monitoring and evaluation. This article attempts to clarify this difference in detail.
What is Monitoring?
Monitoring is the systematic analysis occasionally made of information to identify changes over a period of time. Monitoring keeps the track of the process of implementation. It consists in examining the progress made in a project against time by taking into account performance too.
Monitoring consists in periodical checking of progress made in the conduct of the projects against the targets and goals laid down. It has to be understood that monitoring is done with a view to ensure the completion of the project in time. This, in fact, is the very purpose of monitoring.
The purpose of monitoring also lies in providing constructive suggestions. These suggestions can be regarding the rescheduling of the project if required, allotment of separate budget to the project and even reassigning the staff for the conduct of a particular project.
What is Evaluation?
Evaluation is the analysis of the effectiveness of an activity that would finally prompt a judgment regarding the progress made in relation to the goals of a firm. Evaluation consists in estimating the value of something. It involves the process of finding the facts.
Evaluation can also be explained as the study of past experience when it comes to the performance and implementation of the project. Unlike Evaluation, Monitoring does not take into account the past experience involved in the performance of a project. In short it can be said that evaluation aims at the submission of the valid information on the conduct and impact of the project.
Evaluation consists in making a study about the effectiveness of the projects. The purpose of evaluation lies in bringing about the process of accounting close to perfection. It also consists in making the best possible use of the available funds, methods to stop the probability of mistakes, testing the efficacy of the new techniques employed in the completion of the projects, verifying the real benefits of the projects and understanding the participation of the people in the project by means of surveys, interviews and the like. It is true that evaluation aims for the future.
This emphasizes that in conducting projects both monitoring and evaluation have a specific role to play. The difference between the two roles in project management can be summarized as follows.
What is the Difference Between Monitoring and Evaluation?
Definitions of Monitoring and Evaluation:
Monitoring: Monitoring is the systematic analysis made occasionally of information to identify changes over a period of time.
Evaluation: Evaluation is the analysis of the effectiveness of an activity that would finally prompt a judgment regarding the progress made in relation to the goals of a firm.
Characteristics of Monitoring and Evaluation:
Function:
Monitoring: Monitoring keeps the track of the process of implementation.
Evaluation: Evaluation consists in estimating the value of something. It involves the process of finding the facts.
Aim:
Monitoring: Monitoring aims at periodical checking of progress made in the conduct of the projects against the targets and goals laid down.
Evaluation: Evaluation aims at making a study about the effectiveness of the projects.
Purpose:
Monitoring: The purpose of monitoring lies in providing constructive suggestions.
Evaluation: The purpose of evaluation lies in bringing about the process of accounting close to perfection.
Image Courtesy:
1. Traffic Monitoring By Suryasuharman (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
2. SSQ Evaluation box By Msfitzgibbonsaz (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
