Welcome to Week 1 in the course Program Evaluation for Health Care Managers.

The goal of this week is to introduce you to program evaluation and its types, discuss the differences between evaluation and research and go over some of the frameworks and models that are used in program evaluations.

A comic strip humorously showing the importance of communication

The intended learning outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • 1 Prepare for a conversation by self-assessing, identifying your assumptions about the situation (fact vs assumption), identifying potential barriers and elements that can affect the conversation (shame, armour, cultural knowledge, social knowledge), practicing empathy.
  • 2 Planning for the conversation (including timing, method, etc.)
  • 3 Engage in a conversation by starting with safety and mutual respect (and re-establishing it at any point), describing the gap/issue, gathering information. Move through the conversation by exploring options (and using negotiation strategies), staying flexible, assuming the best in the other person(s), taking breaks as necessary. Decide on a path forward.
  • 4 Take steps after the conversation for a continued strengthening of the relationship.
  • 5 Successfully navigate negotiations (e.g., with a job offer).
A clipboard that reads “Learning Outcomes: 1. Prepare for a conversation. 2. Plan for the conversation. 3. Engage in the conversation. 4. Take steps after the conversation. 5. Successfully navigate negotiations

The module’s structure

Navigating Difficult Conversation Road Map

Feeling safe as you work through the module/course

This module/course touches some challenging topics and it’s important that you find the balance between challenging yourself (appropriate discomfort) and feeling safe and confident. That might mean that you pause or advocate for what you need during the course. As you work through the module, we have several case studies you can work on, or you can create your own.

We are learning too! We bring diverse expertise, and we are always learning. If something is wrong, or you have new ideas, please let us know. We can only make changes if we hear about issues and suggestions.

a clean, well-lit workspace

Learning activities: Goal-setting

Intention: Reinforce a skill from the introductory section (SMART goal setting); focus on specific skills.

Instruction: As you think about your own current abilities and needs with respect to navigating difficult conversations, go to your Workbook to set one or several SMART for this module, and then click on the checkbox.

Thanks for taking the time to write your goal(s). Before you move on, double check that your goal(s) meet the SMART criteria.

As you move through the module, try to regularly revisit your goal to see how you’re progressing, and adjust that goal as needed.