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In 1998, an organizational assessment tool designed to meet the internal organizational needs of state-level EE organizations was developed and evaluated by NEEAP graduate assistant, Tracie Beasley. This research is contained in a thesis titled "The Development and Evaluation of an Organizational Assessment Tool Specific to the Needs of Environmental Education Capacity Building Organizations". This document can be obtained from the library at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Following is an abstract of this research. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a self-administered internal organization assessment tool (OAT) specific to the needs of state-level environmental education (EE) capacity building organizations. The OAT was developed in a response to a need, as indicated by state-level EE organizations, for increased organizational development support for building organizational capacity to implement and maintain comprehensive state-level EE programs. A literature review focusing on questionnaire development and use and organizational development was conducted to develop the OAT. OAT evaluation involved over 100 EE professionals, and processes used included panel reviews, discussion groups, surveys, telephone interviews, and focus groups. "The Long Interview" methodology was used to conduct and analyze interview data. Results of the evaluation indicate that the OAT is a comprehensive, useful, user-friendly tool which addresses the organizational development needs of state-level EE organizations. Results also indicate that the OAT is an effective educational resource and, with support, is an effective organizational assessment tool. As a result of this research, 2,200 copies have been published, allowing the National EE Advancement Project (NEEAP) to provide organizational development support to a far greater number of organizations than ever before. Individuals representing over fifteen state organizations have already expressed interest in using the OAT. The OAT will be piloted with Region 6 EPA EE organizations ( AR, LA, OK, TX) during the summer of 1999, and EE leaders working with NEEAP to build a national EE capacity building support team are also planning to use the OAT to assess the needs of EE organizations requesting organizational development support. |
