Monitoring, Operations Research and Evaluation for Adaptive Programmes (MORE-AP)

  Generative AI, the technology behind tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney, has taken the world by storm. Its swift and widespread adoption in workplaces, in particular, has been nothing short of remarkable. While many factors contribute to this phenomenon, a closer look suggests that the "Law of Least Resistance" or the "Principle of Least Effort" plays a significant role. This principle posits that individuals naturally gravitate towards actions requiring the least amount of effort to achieve a desired outcome. In the context of generative AI, The Principle of Least Effort in Action manifests in several ways: Increasing Efficiency by streamlining tasks, automating processes that were once time-consuming and labor-intensive. This efficiency frees employees to focus on higher-level, strategic work. Many generative AI tools are designed with user-friendly interfaces and require minimal training. Their ease of use makes them accessible to a wide range of employees, re

Development organizations, in their pursuit of efficiency and impact, often fall into a trap of routinization. Processes become standardized, tasks are automated, and decisions are made based on predefined rules. While this approach offers benefits, it can also lead to a dangerous state of ethical blindness , where organizations become desensitized to potential ethical risks and fail to recognize the harmful consequences of their actions. As you are aware, context changes all the time, therefore operating on autopilot and relying on predefined rules, may make staff, including managers not adapt quickly to change in context.  This is where the crucial role of evaluation emerges. By providing a systematic and objective lens through which to examine processes and practices, evaluation can act as a powerful antidote to the dangers of routinization and ethical blindness. The learning role of evaluations is aimed at addressing exactly this.  The Perils of Routinization: Routinization, while

  In many organizations, phrases like "We have always done it that way" and "I know what I am doing" are quite common. However, if you are a monitoring and evaluation staff member, you may notice some unusual trends in results, or overhear something in meetings that makes you question the vertical and horizontal logic of the program. Depending on your findings, it could be the perfect time to pause, take stock, and reflect. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to convince people who are used to routines and strict adherence to standard operating procedures to think outside the box and out of their comfort zone. This is where ethical blindness can occur. Ethical blindness refers to a situation in which a person is unable to perceive ethical issues or moral dilemmas because of routines and strict adherence to standard operating procedures. In essence, it leads to inappropriate or unethical decisions when the individuals are not able to think beyond what they are used to