“If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.”
-Stephen Covey
Organizational Effectiveness Evaluations
There is a mental “thrill” many leaders enjoy when planning for the future or starting a new initiative. It can be exciting to dream big and cast a vision. In complimentary contrast, many stalwarts within our ranks find their peace in continuing to diligently execute for years, establishing the steady routines and activities that make up the status quo within our organizations. Good leaders know that it takes both visionaries and administrators to take a mission from vision to execution.
However, what no one usually stops to think about (or at least not enough) are the questions: “Has what we all dreamed and built actually worked?” or “Is what we are doing actually effective?” These questions are scary because we know the answers to them might reveal painful truths. What if we discovered that all of our leadership and long-time efforts by our teams were completely irrelevant … or even counterproductive to our mission? It is far easier and psychologically “safer” to carry on with the status quo and just “do what has always been done”, rather than stop and honestly evaluate our own effectiveness.
The path towards the kind of change that enables a lasting impact only comes from facing these questions.
Some leaders do realize the need for organizational self-reflection, but run into roadblocks because: 1) They are “too close” to see things that might be obvious from the outside; 2) They may have to overcome organizational pressure to not “rock the boat”; 3) They simply lack the bandwidth or tools necessary to thoroughly evaluate the organization while also trying to execute on all the priorities that it takes to run it; or, 4) They become focused on the wrong indicators of success, not seeing the bigger picture, mistaking outputs for outcomes, or valuing efficiency over effectiveness,
This is where the Organizational Effectiveness Evaluation services offered by Marlette Consulting can become extremely helpful.
Our Evaluation Process
Our 7-Stage Organizational Effectiveness Framework
Our 7-stage framework is designed for leaders who want to make meaningful, mission-aligned progress—not just quick fixes. We will help you uncover what’s working, what’s not, the root causes, and what to do next.
Our framework is flexible by design—each stage can be engaged as a standalone service or bundled together for a comprehensive org. effectiveness evaluation. Whether you need a single, targeted assessment or a full diagnostic, we tailor our approach to fit your goals, scope, and budget.
Stage 1 – Laying the Foundation
We align with leadership on goals, scope, and context while mapping out your organization’s unique mission, systems, and desired definition of success. We will also walk through more details of our full process in our first meetings.
Stage 2 – Judging the Book by Its Cover
We evaluate how your organization is perceived externally—reviewing your website, social media, physical space, competitors, and online reputation.
Stage 3 – Secret Observer
We step into the shoes of your clients, visitors, or staff to provide an unfiltered view of what it’s like to receive your services—and identify experience gaps.
Stage 4 – Job Shadowing & Inquiry
We observe internal processes, shadow key roles, and hold inquiry sessions with staff and recipients to uncover inefficiencies and cultural insights.
Stage 5 – By the Numbers
We analyze key performance data, staffing structures, and financial metrics to paint a full picture of how resources are deployed and where results could be improved.
Stage 6 – The After Action
You’ll receive a thorough, but clear and actionable report and a facilitated review session to ensure leadership alignment, close loose ends, and prioritize next steps.
Stage 7 – Now What?
We support your implementation efforts with facilitation, planning, and additional services—from project management to data visualization.
