MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES.
Chapter 6: PERFECTING: EVALUATING THE PLAN.
When you evaluate something, you examine it carefully and consider it’s value. Evaluation is the process of examining plans to determine their value in achieving the purpose of your ministry. Objectives States what you plan to do. Evaluation determine if you accomplished those objectives and it makes you accountable to God, those with whom and to whom you minister and to your own self. Evaluation process includes:
-Write objectives so they are measurable and you will be able to tell that you have fulfilled them.
-Establish dates to check on the progress of the plan.
-Pray before you begin evaluation. Ask God to show you weakness that need correction and give you guidance in additional plans you may need to make.
-Evaluate to see if the plan is proceeding on schedule and accomplishing the intended goals.
-When you have completed a plan, evaluate it to answer: Did you reach the goal? Did it really contribute to the fulfilment of your purpose as you thought it could? Where did you fail, why and how? Where did you succeed, why and how? What could you have done differently? Different methods? Different people? Different plan? Where the people involved used effectively in ministry? Could you use this same plan again? Ask the Lord to guide you in this decision and what can you learn from this that will help you in making new plans? Plans fail. God is always perfect, but He works through imperfect instruments and therefore plans sometimes fail. Failure is always because of man’s unwillingness to work in harmony with God. Lack of vision, training, prayer, improper use of spiritual gifts, unwilling to pay the price, unclear plans, Lack of communication and evaluation, fear, doubt, procrastination, lack of funds and workers, murmuring, making excuses, Slothfulness, selfishness, refusing to provide humble service, attitude problems towards planning, lack of unity, disobedience, failure to revise plans, failure to learn from experience, inattention to detail, lack of proper leadership, failure to be honest in evaluation and spiritual attack of the enemy. Evaluation points out weaknesses in objectives. You make new plans as old ones are completed. You learn from your successes and mistakes. Planning is a continuing cycle. You make plans, implement them, evaluate them, and then make more plans. If you are to be effective in ministry, you will continue this cycle until your purpose is fulfilled and you have completed your life work.