Focus, Align, Execute: Using the 4 Disciplines of Execution to Drive Evaluation and Strategic Learning

Human service organizations often struggle to align evaluation with high-priority outcomes amid complex demands and limited resources. This session explores how one large child welfare agency adapted the Four Disciplines of Execution (4DX) framework (McChesney, Covey, & Huling, 2012) to strengthen strategic evaluation planning, support execution, and build a culture of data-informed action. Using real examples from workforce well-being and permanency initiatives, the facilitator will describe how evaluation leaders and program staff co-developed Wildly Important Goals (WIGs), identified meaningful lead measures, designed visible scoreboards, and implemented a consistent cadence of accountability. The conversation will invite participants to reflect on how 4DX or similar frameworks can increase evaluation use, clarity, and engagement within their own settings. This session is intended for evaluators, internal learning teams, and leaders working in human services and other high-stakes sectors who seek actionable tools for connecting strategy to implementation.