# Evaluation planning case: BridgeWorks

**Fictional case.** BridgeWorks is an invented youth employment program. All organizations, locations, figures, and records below are fictional and supplied only for this exercise.

## Request

Prepare a practical evaluation question and method matrix and a draft terms of reference (TOR) for the program director. The director must decide by December 15, 2026 whether to continue the next cohort as designed or make changes before recruitment. The evaluation should be useful for that decision. The director has authorized up to 20 evaluator working days, including analysis and reporting. Fieldwork can take place during November 2026. No external comparison group is available.

## Source BW-01: Program brief

BridgeWorks ran one 2025 cohort at four community centers. It enrolled 160 young adults ages 18 to 24. The program defines completion as attending at least 10 of 12 sessions. The register records 128 people meeting that definition. Sessions covered job search, interview practice, and workplace communication. The program director is the decision owner. The next cohort is planned to begin in January 2027.

## Source BW-02: Results framework

| ID | Result or indicator | Definition / available source | 2025 value |
|---|---|---|---:|
| BW-O1 | Participants complete the program | Count of enrolled participants attending at least 10 of 12 sessions; attendance register | 128 of 160 enrolled (80%) |
| BW-O2 | Participants use job-search skills | No routine measure collected | Not measured |
| BW-OC1 | Participants obtain paid work within six months | No follow-up system; no comparison group | Not measured |

The program's original planning target for BW-O1 was 75% of enrolled participants. No target was set for the other results.

## Source BW-03: Available records

- Attendance register with participant IDs, center, session attendance, and completion status for all 160 enrollees.
- A brief end-of-cohort feedback form completed by 72 participants. It asked whether sessions were useful and what participants would change. The form did not ask about employment status.
- No routine employment follow-up, participant phone list, or consent for recontact is available to the evaluator.
- Four facilitators and the program director can participate in interviews. The director can arrange introductions to up to six local employers, but employer participation is not guaranteed.

## Source BW-04: Evaluation constraints

- Evaluator level of effort: maximum 20 working days, inclusive of preparation, fieldwork, analysis, and reporting.
- Fieldwork window: November 1 to November 30, 2026.
- Final report needed by December 10, 2026, so the director can decide by December 15.
- No external comparison group, baseline measure of employment, or routine six-month follow-up exists.
- Findings should distinguish what the available records show from what interviews can suggest.

## User task

Using only these supplied sources, produce a prioritized evaluation question and method matrix, a concise draft TOR, and a short review/change record explaining any scope choices. Cite source IDs beside material facts. State assumptions and unresolved limitations. Do not invent evaluation findings or claim that the program caused employment outcomes.