Interesting article about cluster evaluation written by James Wilson in collaboration with Madeline Smith and Emily Wise for the TCI Network's 'Shared Values' publications that was distributed at the European Conference in Bulgaria (March 2018).

1. Evaluation 23
Cluster evaluation: Learning to complete
the virtuous circle!
By Madeline Smith, James Wilson and Emily Wise of the Clusters Evaluation
Evaluation is a fantastic opportunity to learn from cluster efforts
Too often evaluation lessons are not taken back into new
innovation and clusters, has frequently wrestled with the issues
together academics, policymakers and cluster practitioners
from around the world to collectively address this topic in a
nature of these activities and the continuity of a proportion of
the people involved have facilitated a progressive process of
has resulted in the development and validation of an evaluation
framework based on the notion of what one would expect to
Another key output has been the development of seven
Evaluation is about learning,
not just audit (although
It is important to ask ourselves
how the information will be used
to change what we do and how
we do it, and to review if we are
process of continuous learning
that feeds the policy process; not
listening? Who should we talk
It is important to think about
different audiences (and
potentially involve them in the
is best placed to do the evaluation
and ask what is most relevant
for reaching these different
audiences include telling
stories as well as facts, tailoring
appropriate communication to
the level of analysis (project,
organisation, programme,
visually to show progress and
Understanding the context
Clusters demonstrate different
evidence at different stages of
to know what to look for and
to understand that things take
the context also implies
understanding the external
environment in which clusters
operate and their interactions
with other actors and with other
Evidence should be captured
against:
knowledge and innovation,
SHARED
views
social capital and collaborative
It is important to link to
objectives (have we done what we
activity but also on results and
impact, and to consider the wider
social impacts of clusters ‘beyond
Clusters and cluster policies
Evaluation should appreciate
that desired impacts may only
emerge in the long term, but look
foundation of cluster working
progress and change in the
trust, motivation, satisfaction
and behaviour change that are
changes should be linked to
different services, attracted
new customers, led to new
and more qualitative approaches
Be aware of the challenges
and innovate to overcome them
and control groups are hard to
against baselines and mixed
Cluster evaluators are using
these principles to inform and
share experiences, generate new
collective knowledge, and develop
The work of the group is aiming to
address the lack of standardised
approaches, and to capture and
communicate this learning
to inform future policy and to
improve the evidence of the value