Monitoring and Evaluating Communication Effectivity

A logical model in monitoring and evaluating communication effectivity involves splitting the variables into two: those that pertain to making something happen (the causes) and those that account for results (the effects) (Sanders 2000; Mercado 2009). The variables of causes include input, activities and outputs and these have to be monitored and accounted for. The variables of effects include initial outcomes, intermediate outcomes, and ultimate outcomes and these have to be evaluated. Monitoring traces the plan and documents its implementation while evaluation accounts for results arising from the implementation of the plan. Communication at all levels is a planned undertaking with clearly articulated results.

Communication is a dynamic process in which humans strive to convey meaning to one another (and to oneself) and serves as the basis for understanding the environment, events, objects, and other people. It aims at a response. A sender of message or communicator anticipates the intended recipient or audience to receive the intended message and to act on it as a response. In monitoring and evaluating communication, the input such as the medium of communication, the communication design, and the utilization of time and space are monitored while the behavior change caused by the communication is evaluated. In this way, success and failure of communication can be determined and necessary immediate or future corrective actions can be identified and undertaken accurately.