aes19 International Evaluation Conference

Andrew Moore (NZ  Defence), Victoria Carling (NZ Defence, NZ)

Empathy mapping is an emerging collaborative approach that focuses on the results of a programme. Used to gain the perspective of different stakeholders, from the commissioner to the programme participants, it seeks to define what they truly value from a programme. Empathy mapping requires participants to reflect on what success looks like, according to them, by considering what they would see, hear, do, say, think, or feel during and post programme. The results can then be used, as the building blocks of evaluation rubrics to define measurable criteria. The collaborative approach ensures a shared understanding is achieved on the quality, value, and effectiveness of a programme.

Drawing from their experience the presenters will demonstrate how empathy mapping has been used to build the foundations for successful evaluation within NZ Defence. Highlighting how empathy mapping can maximize contact time with key stakeholders, document the shared understanding of programme results and subsequently promote a collective interpretation of evaluation reports.

The session will allow participants to gain an insight into: What is empathy mapping? Where did it come from? What are the components of an empathy map? Why are they useful as building blocks for evaluation practice? How they can be used to build evaluation-rubrics?