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An integrated realist evaluation model to evaluate organisational interventions

Roodbari, Hamid, Nielsen, Karina, Axtell, Carolyn (2021) An integrated realist evaluation model to evaluate organisational interventions. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2021 (1). ISSN 0065-0668. E-ISSN 2151-6561. (doi:10.5465/AMBPP.2021.10830abstract) (KAR id:96345)

Abstract

Organisational interventions are the recommended approach for improving employees? health and wellbeing, but evaluating these complex interventions is challenging. Realist evaluation is a promising approach to evaluate interventions; it aims to answer the question of ?what works for whom in which circumstances?? by studying how the mechanisms of an intervention work in a certain context to bring about certain outcomes in Context-Mechanism-Outcome (CMO) configurations. Based on realist evaluation, Nielsen and Abildgaard (2013) proposed a five-phase model to evaluate organisational interventions. We extend the five-phase model to capture more intervention components and align better with realist evaluation. First, to include further crucial intervention components to evaluate, we integrate the content of the RE-AIM framework into the five-phase model. Second, we provide guidance on when and how to develop and test CMO configurations for each intervention component. Thus, we develop an ?integrated realist evaluation model?. Also, we review the most recent evidence in the literature regarding the intervention components and develop an example of a CMO configuration for each component. As such, this article contributes to the understanding of ?how to? evaluate complex organisational interventions that can be used to design, implement, and evaluate future organisational interventions.Organisational interventions are the recommended approach for improving employees? health and wellbeing, but evaluating these complex interventions is challenging. Realist evaluation is a promising approach to evaluate interventions; it aims to answer the question of ?what works for whom in which circumstances?? by studying how the mechanisms of an intervention work in a certain context to bring about certain outcomes in Context-Mechanism-Outcome (CMO) configurations. Based on realist evaluation, Nielsen and Abildgaard (2013) proposed a five-phase model to evaluate organisational interventions. We extend the five-phase model to capture more intervention components and align better with realist evaluation. First, to include further crucial intervention components to evaluate, we integrate the content of the RE-AIM framework into the five-phase model. Second, we provide guidance on when and how to develop and test CMO configurations for each intervention component. Thus, we develop an ?integrated realist evaluation model?. Also, we review the most recent evidence in the literature regarding the intervention components and develop an example of a CMO configuration for each component. As such, this article contributes to the understanding of ?how to? evaluate complex organisational interventions that can be used to design, implement, and evaluate future organisational interventions.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.5465/AMBPP.2021.10830abstract
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Department of Leadership and Management
Depositing User: Hamid Roodbari
Date Deposited: 30 Aug 2022 08:38 UTC
Last Modified: 31 Aug 2022 09:43 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/96345 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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