Here is an excerpt from a draft that didn’t really fit in the main body.
Getting closer to expected value calculations seems worth it even if we can’t reach them
Because there are many steps between quantification and impact, quantifying the value of quantification might be particularly hard. That said, each step towards getting closer to expected value calculations seems valuable even if we never arrive at expected value calculations. For example:
Quantifying the value of one organization on one unit might be valuable, if the organization aims to do better each year on that metric.
Evaluations might be valuable even if they don’t affect prioritization (e.g., of funds) because they might directly point out areas to improve.
Evaluating organizations within the same cause area is valuable because it allows for prioritization within that cause area.
General quantifications seem valuable even if very uncertain because they could determine which further work to do to become more certain. Evaluations could be action-guiding even if extremely uncertain.
Here is an excerpt from a draft that didn’t really fit in the main body.
Getting closer to expected value calculations seems worth it even if we can’t reach them
Because there are many steps between quantification and impact, quantifying the value of quantification might be particularly hard. That said, each step towards getting closer to expected value calculations seems valuable even if we never arrive at expected value calculations. For example:
Quantifying the value of one organization on one unit might be valuable, if the organization aims to do better each year on that metric.
Evaluations might be valuable even if they don’t affect prioritization (e.g., of funds) because they might directly point out areas to improve.
Evaluating organizations within the same cause area is valuable because it allows for prioritization within that cause area.
General quantifications seem valuable even if very uncertain because they could determine which further work to do to become more certain. Evaluations could be action-guiding even if extremely uncertain.