Developing an M&E system for a wicked problem

Bibliographic Data

ID6423952
AuthorsAnne Stephens (0000-0002-1929-4999, James Cook University, corresponding author), Jill C Thomas, Jill Thomas (Jill Thomas Evaluation, Australia)
Year2025
Volume25
Issue2
Pages127-146
Publication date2025-01-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEvaluation Journal of Australasia (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1035-719X • E-ISSN: 2515-9372
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1035719x251314207
OpenAlexW4406259104
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited16

Wicked problems are a challenge due to their dynamic and uncertain behaviour, inter-relationships with multiple systems and sub-systems, actors or non-human variables, and scale. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is a crucial element of any intervention seeking to contribute to positive change. This article explores a process used to design an M&E system that responds to a wicked problem. The authors argue that wicked problems require an M&E system design that is grounded in systemic thinking. Such an approach has been adopted to design an M&E system for counter-trafficking in persons by the Australian Government funded Australia and South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australian Counter Trafficking program. This article describes the process used to develop the M&E system and the value of using systemic thinking to inform M&E system design for wicked problems and concludes with lessons learned

Business · Economics · Element (criminal law · Geography · Government (linguistics · Intervention (counseling · Management · Political science · Process (computing · Process management · Scale (ratio · Sociology · Systems thinking · Value (mathematics · Wicked problem · Community Health and Development · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Computer Science · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Law · Medicine · Nursing · Public Administration

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Open DOIOpen Access