Understanding the Difference Between Program Analysis and Program Evaluation: Can You Help?

Can you please differentiate program analysis from program evaluation? Thanks a lot.

Program Analysis

The analysis of options in relation to goals and objectives, strategies, procedures, and resources by comparing alternatives for proposed and ongoing programs. It embraces the processes involved in program planning and program evaluation.

Program Evaluation

It involves collecting information about a program or some aspect of a program to make necessary decisions about the program. Program evaluation may include a variety of evaluations: needs assessments, cost/benefit analysis, effectiveness, efficiency, formative, summative, goal-based, process, outcomes, etc.

I would also add that analysis is about finding out what makes up the program, why it exists at all, who wants it, why it exists in its current form, what resources it needs, who it impacts, and who it is designed to embrace.

For evaluation, I would simply say that it is about attaching some value to each aspect of the program using the analysis data. I take this perspective because of the way "evaluation" is spelled!

Kind regards,
Martin