P.J.M. Verschuren, & Laszlo Zsolnai: “Norms, Goals, and Stakeholders in Program Evaluation” Human Systems Management , 1998, Vol.17, No. 2, pp. 155-160.
Evaluation research favours goal based evaluation. However, the achievement of the stated goals of interventionists, problem solvers or program managers is not a sufficient condition for a good decision or a successful program implementation. The value of a program, an intervention or a decision is determined not only by the achievement of its stated goals but also by its intrinsic ethical value and its performance for the stakeholders. Hence a program or a decision can be considered as successful if it meets the applying ethical norms, works well in achieving its stated goals, and produces satisfying results for the stakeholders.