Carson Research Consulting Inc. :: We Know What Works

Strategic Planning and Facilitation
We provide strategic planning and facilitation services for large and small organizations that are looking for an essential tool to help them reach their goals. During the strategic planning process stakeholders agree on and commit to priorities that are essential to the vision of the organization. The process is strategic because it involves assessing the current environment and making choices about how to respond. The strategic planning process is focused and productive, raising a sequence of questions designed to help planners evaluate their past experiences, test old assumptions, and analyze new information. The process builds commitment among stakeholders by identifying priorities and engaging with conflict in a constructive way that supports improved communication and coordination. Through the strategic planning process, organizations make clear choices about competing options and how best to pursue the mission of the organization.

Logic Model Development
We work with organizations to develop logic models for program planning, grant applications, evaluation, and strategic decision-making.

What does a logic model do? A logic model is a tool for specifying how and why a program is expected to have an impact. We all have certain theories about the impact that our programs have on the people in our community. We implement activities based on these theories. Implicit in the development of a logic model is a connection between our activities and the health and well-being of the people we work with. This implied connection is called causation. Laying out the chain of causation is one thing you can do with a logic model.

A logic model clarifies exactly what a program will attempt to accomplish. It can help identify missing or poorly-defined program elements or flawed assumptions about the way a program ought to work to make a difference. A logic model helps clarify and improve a program’s design. To develop a logic model, you will need to know what your goals, objectives, and activities are and how they are connected.
Balanced Scorecard Development
We help people develop and maintain Balanced Scorecards? for their organizations using a collaborative, inclusive framework. We can help with the development of a Balanced Scorecard for organizations of any size, including government and nonprofit organizations.

With a Balanced Scorecard you can focus on your lead indicators, resulting in a constant flow of the right information to use when charting the progress of your company towards your strategic goals. The Balanced Scorecard will help you turn your strategies into action, giving you the feedback you need around both internal process and external outcomes, leading to continuous performance improvement.

For more information about the Balanced Scorecard, visit the Balanced Scorecard Collaborative at www.bscol.com or see our newsletter on using the Balanced Scorecard in a nonprofit environment.
Program Evaluation Design and Implementation
We conduct evaluations for a range of programs and initiatives. We have worked with comprehensive cross-site and national initiatives to assist them with isolating program effects across and within sites. We also assist small community-based organizations to develop affordable, manageable evaluation as part of a program management strategy. We can also develop research designs for process, impact, and outcome evaluations.
Training, Technical Assistance, and Facilitation
We train individuals at all levels of expertise in evaluation, program design, and outcome-based assessment. We conduct an Evaluation 101 seminar for grantees to assist them in developing evaluation plans that will improve their chances of securing funding. We also provide local government agencies with assistance in writing RFPs that include an evaluation component. We can help funders develop a system for evaluating grant applications to ensure that evaluation plans are well designed, and to give feedback to applicants on how to improve their evaluation designs.