Our work

Complexity framing

Pragmatica draws on a range of complexity framing approaches in our work. Collaborating with others offers the opportunity to share and develop new ideas and approaches.

Check out some of our recent work which helped surface new thoughts on complexity framing to address systems change.

Topic areas include:

Commissioning and contracting to enhance service delivery: learnings from practice and theory for funders, serviced providers and evaluators
Contracting public health and social services: Insights from complexity theory for Aotearoa New Zealand
Working with collaborative stakeholder groups
Evaluating in uncertainty: The curse of the wicked problem
Evaluation in complex situations

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Evaluation

We showcase a selection of published evaluation projects completed by Pragmatica, in collaboration with others.

Evaluation Projects

We showcase a selection of published evaluation projects completed by Pragmatica, in collaboration with others. Projects include:

Creatives in Schools
Talanoa Ako (PowerUP)
Envirolink Evaluation
Sustainable Farming Fund Evaluation
Evaluation of stakeholder perceptions of the implementation of the Waste Minimisation Act
Regional Growth Programme Evaluation.

Evaluation Rubrics

Pragmatica is well known for using rubrics in evaluation, having used them for over a decade. Judy regularly mentors others in their use.

This section includes many of the key publications and presentations developed over time, in collaboration with others.

Topic areas include:

Use of evaluation rubrics
Evaluation building blocks: a guide
Chapter on evaluation in "Social science research in New Zealand: An Introduction"
Evaluation rubrics: how to ensure transparent and clear assessment that respects diverse lines of evidence
Rubrics: A Method for Surfacing Values and Improving the Credibility of Evaluation; Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation
Providing mentoring support to develop rubrics

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Case studies

A case study is a powerful tool for explaining shifts and improvements in the delivery of complex services, programmes or policies. They are valuable research for showing real and lasting change in an easy-to-read format. With 15+ years of research and evaluation experience we are skilled in preparing potent case studies using a complexity-informed approach. Our case studies quickly explain how the focus of the case has positively impacted individuals and communities.

A selection of case studies that have been published by clients, including:

Talanoa Ako (PowerUP): case studies and exemplars / Pasifika education success
Thriving Southland case study
Creatives in Schools
Talanoa Ako response to COVID-19 case study
Leadership Practices Supporting Pasifika Student Success
Rangiātea: case studies and exemplars / Māori education success

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Research projects

A selection of research projects that have been published by clients, including:

Reading Together® Te Pānui Ngātahi research summary
Talanoa Ako response to COVID-19 case study
Thriving Southland case study
Talanoa Ako (PowerUP): case studies and exemplars / Pasifika education success
Leadership Practices Supporting Pasifika Student Success
Rangiātea: case studies and exemplars / Māori education success
Wellington’s knowledge economy — coming to grips with technology change

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Sensemaking

Sensemaking is a key part of Pragmatica’s process in undertaking evaluation and consulting assignments. Pragmatica uses tools such as rich pictures, pattern spotting and strategic foresight to make sense in uncertain and unpredictable settings.

This section provides insights into our journey developing tools and methodologies to help clients make sense of complexity.

Topics include:

Pattern spotting as a sensemaking tool in evaluation
Rich pictures: The use of Soft Systems Methodology in evaluation
Strategic foresight as a tool for envisioning evaluation in the future

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