Program Appraisal 



Why? 



An important concern of the Animal Disease 

 Eradication Division is that its responsibilities 

 are beinK proiJerly and effectively carried out. 

 To assure this, management must have reliable 

 infoi-mation on which to act. 



This function is considei'ed one of the most 

 important to be initiated by the Division in 

 recent years. It is designed to give constric- 

 tive criticism and review of Division jirograms 

 by its own personnel. It is an attempt to 

 evaluate programs by people not involved in 

 them, so that if certain aspects i-equire modi- 

 fication or correction, they can be made for 

 the benefit of all concerned. 



Thus, it may be said that the chief reason 

 for program appraisal is to develop and con- 

 duct reviews and analyses of Division activities 

 in order to achieve more efficient and effective 

 administration. 



What if is 



With the realinement of Division functions 

 in 1958, there was provided a new function 

 of Program Appraisal. It is neither a line 

 nor an operating function, but a staff or ad- 

 visory function. It does not make changes in 

 procedures at any level. It is independent of 

 line operations. Independence i)ermits factual 

 and unbiased reports. 



Program Apprai.sal, of course, does not in 

 any way relieve others in the Division of their 

 primary responsibilities. 



The functions and objectives of Program 

 Appraisal are — 



(1) To evaluate the adequacy and effective- 



ness of policies and procedures. 



(2) To determine whether programs are 



being administered in accordance 

 with established policies and pro- 

 cedures. 



(3) To evaluate Division programs at Na- 



tional and State levels. 



(4) To determine overall effectiveness, ef- 



rtciencj', and economy of operations. 



How it operates 



Program Appraisal personnel make station 

 reviews and appi'aisals by visits to the stations. 

 One or more of each of the following types of 

 employees are visited and accompanied in their 

 routine activities: District and area veteri- 

 nary live-stock inspectors, stockyard veterinar- 

 ians, and fee-basis veterinarians. Other 

 people, including Extension personnel, I'epre- 

 sentatives of farm organizations, veterinary 

 associations, and State employees are also 

 contacted. Visits are made to laboratories, 

 Federal stockyards, inspection stations, and 

 approved auction markets. 



Meetings with Division employees are usu- 

 ally made with no advance notice. In addi- 

 tion to observation and appraisal of field work 

 and techniques, the following are reviewed: 



(1) Supervision 



(2) Plan of work and work assignments 



(.T) Public relations 



(4) Knowledge of individual disea.ses and 

 programs 



(o) Attitudes concerning programs 



(6) Available informational mateiMal 



(7) Equipment and supplies 



(8) Records and reports 



It is important that information be obtained 

 from field personnel in regard to all procedures 

 used in the programs with which they are in 

 contact. It is equally important that problems 

 hindering the achievement of objectives be 

 clearly defined. Finding deficiencies and de- 

 fining problems is the key to efficient and eco- 



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